Wildlife: mammals: general interest Books
Reaktion Books Rabbit
Book SynopsisRabbit is the story of the winsome long-eared animal that hops through children's stories, myths and legends, and back yards. In this richly illustrated book, Victoria Dickenson explores the natural and cultural history of this most familiar creature. From the giant extinct rabbits of Minorca to the tiny endangered Volcano rabbits of Mexico, the book explores the history of the species, with a special focus on the European rabbit, whose history has been so closely intertwined with that of its greatest predator, humanity. Celebrated for its fur and its flesh, the rabbit owes its worldwide distribution to human intervention. Captain Cook took rabbits to New Zealand to provide food for sailors and settlers. Their introduction in the late nineteenth century to Australia resulted in a disastrous plague of rabbits, which could only be brought under control by the introduction of myxomatosis. The rabbit is a paradox. It is prey, chased by a thousand enemies from eagles to foxes to domestic cats. But it is also trickster, who outwits all rivals, and escapes every trap. The rabbit is lucky, and his foot will charm away evil. It haunts the graveyard and dances in the moonlight. The rabbit is suitable as a cuddly companion for children but also as a symbol of unbridled animal passion. From Peter Rabbit to B'rer Rabbit to Watership Down and the Energizer Bunny, rabbits hop through our imagination. Discover the Jade Moon rabbit, celebrate the Year of the Rabbit and enjoy the poetry of rabbits in this fascinating study of an animal that, after the dog and cat, has been granted a privileged place in our homes and our hearts.
£999.99
Reaktion Books Llama
Book SynopsisKnown for their haughty demeanour, woolly charm and propensity to spit when threatened, llamas have had a rich and varied history. Since their domestication high in the Andes, they have been sacrificed, farmed, smuggled and petted. They have functioned at different times as luxury commodities, literary muses and national symbols and have served as beasts of burden, circus performers and even golf caddies. This book charts the history of llamas and their close relatives, alpacas, guanacos and vicunas. Venerated by the Incas, llamas are still cherished in their native Peru and Bolivia, and remain central to Andean culture. After several unsuccessful acclimatization attempts in the nineteenth century, llamas and alpacas have also become popular pets in Britain, North America and Australia, where they are used for trekking, meat and wool production and as therapy animals. Llama recounts the llama's colourful history and explores the animals' presence in art, literature and film. Packed with llama drama and alpaca facts, Llama shows that there's much more to llamas than spitting.
£999.99
Reaktion Books Wild Boar
Book SynopsisTough, resourceful and omnivorous, wild boar are the ancestors of domestic pigs. From earliest times, wild boar have presented humans with both opportunity and threat: they are a valuable food source, but also a formidable foe carrying tusks that can inflict terrible injuries. Today, boar are impinging on people's lives in new ways, scouting into cities such as Berlin and Tokyo, or establishing populations in areas such as the Forest of Dean in England. Wild Boar traces the history of the interaction between humans and wild boar, from the iconic beasts of myth and legend, such as the Calydonian Boar, to the adoption of the boar as a heraldic device - most notably by the doomed English king Richard iii - and the meticulous rules of engagement that grew up around the practice of hunting. The boar's impact upon human bodies is a running theme in legends, stories and reports, and now that hunters are no longer armed with boar spears but with high-velocity rifles, the boars themselves have ballooned in the popular imagination, in the shape of monstrous hybrids such as 'Hogzilla', in keeping with their role as deadly adversary. Dorothy Yamamoto argues that their former association with masculine valour and heroic combat inflects modern-day attitudes towards wild boar, leading to distorted perceptions of their size, behaviour and the potential threat that they pose. As proposals for including them in schemes for rewilding contend with demands to eradicate them altogether from certain areas, wild boar are a unique focus for much of the current debate about the terms on which we share our planet with other animals.
£999.99
Birlinn General A Richness of Martens: Wildlife Tales from the
Book SynopsisLonglisted for the Highland Book Prize 2019 When Les and Chris Humphreys moved to Ardnamurchan 15 years ago, little did they realise they would be sharing their home with some of Britain’s most elusive and misunderstood mustelids. Amongst all the animals and birds that visit their garden, they have formed a special bond with numerous pine martens, and have studied them and a cast of other creatures at close range through direct observation and via sensor-operated cameras. Naturalist and photographer Polly Pullar has known the Humphreys and their pine martens for many years. In this book she tells the remarkable story of the couple and their animal friends, interpolating it with natural history, anecdote and her own experiences of the wildlife of the area. The result is a fascinating glimpse into the life of a much misunderstood animal and a passionate portrait of one of Scotland’s richest habitats – the oakwoods of Scotland’s Atlantic seaboard.Trade Review'Entertaining, informative and includes findings about martens that challenge previous understandings. A demonstration that you can embrace and enjoy wildlife anywhere' * West Coast Review *
£11.50
Reaktion Books Ape Animal Animal Series
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£999.99
Reaktion Books Kangaroo Animal Series
Book SynopsisWritten in a lively and approachable style, Kangaroo relates the story of this odd, yet much-loved creature in Australian and global history. John Simons describes the physiology and lifecycle of this unique animal, as well as its portrayal in art, literature and popular culture.
£999.99
University of Alaska Press Changing Tracks: Predators and Politics in Mt.
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£999.99
University of Alaska Press Into Brown Bear Country
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£999.99
University of Nevada Press Population Ecology of Roosevelt Elk: Conservation
Book SynopsisThe Roosevelt elk populate the parks along California’s north coast and comprise the largest land mammals in the parks, some weighing up to 1,200 pounds. They are a stable terrestrial land mammal population, a fixture in the parks, but still require ongoing stewardship and management. In a study spanning more than twenty years, Weckerly made key observations and conducted various investigations under a multitude of ecological conditions. Few authors have dedicated this much time and effort into a single research area. It is a testament to perseverance that his groundbreaking study of the Roosevelt elk was so successful. He was able to document the independent dynamics of several herds of female elk, experience the extinction of one of their subpopulations, and record scientific conclusions in the context of resiliency and redundancy of the elk population. This book will be of considerable interest to those who investigate the ecology of big game animals, including naturalists, hunters, and individuals with particular interest in Redwood State and National Parks. It is an important book that contributes substantially to the persistence and viability of Roosevelt elk in the parks and the surrounding area.Trade ReviewThe book is well written, interesting, and should be of interest to a wide array of people. Most scientific aspects of the book are spot on. I think this is a book that should be of value to a broad audience, including visitors to the parks, and not just scientists."" - Terry Bowyer, Idaho State University
£999.99
Apollo Publishers It's Not My Fault: A Pangolin's Manifesto
Book SynopsisA charming illustrated introduction to the pangolin—the shy, scaly-skinned creature scapegoated for the coronavirus outbreak. Pangolin. You've seen the name on the news ticker. You've read the headlines. You've typed it into your search bar. Maybe you know how for centuries, poachers and traffickers have targeted these enigmatic mammals, selling their trademark scales for use in traditional medicine and folk remedies. And that today, pangolins bear an unwieldy burden as the long-snouted face of the COVID-19 virus, as they have been identified as a possible link in the spread of the disease. But what is a pangolin? A mythical creature? A dinosaur? How could it have started all of this? And what can a pangolin teach us about surviving sickness, attacks, and isolation?With heartwarming images and witty revelations, this book will set the record straight: teaching you about these elusive introverts, the dangers they may or may not present to humans, and the threats that they face as an endangered species. This illustrated manifesto will clear up the tabloid misconceptions and reveal time-tested pangolin beliefs, including: Looks can be deceiving (pangolins are more closely related to cats and dogs than lookalike reptiles like armadillos). It's okay to be a loner—especially in a global pandemic. Your worth is not skin-deep. You deserve protection, even if you're different. Curling up into a ball is always the best defense. Through the delightful drawings and clever captions that fill the pages of It's Not My Fault: A Pangolin’s Manifesto, animal lovers of all ages will laugh, cry, and learn that even the most misunderstood members of the animal kingdom are worthy of a second look.
£12.99
Pebble Books Quokkas
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£999.99
Pebble Books Tigers
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£999.99
