Synopses & Reviews
A fascinating story of the animal underworld On the heels of his acclaimed
The Dangerous World of Butterflies, investigative journalist Peter Laufer is back to chronicle his global quest to penetrate the burgeoning underworld of international animal smuggling and who is buying the big cats, long snakes, and great apes that may live in a neighborhood like yours. In
Forbidden Creatures, Laufer exposes the network of poachers, traders, breeders, and customers who constitute this often nefarious business—which, estimated at $10 to $20 billion annually, competes with illegal drug and weapons trafficking in the money it earns criminals. Crisscrossing America and the globe, Laufer introduces brazen and dangerous traders and wealthy (or not-so-wealthy) pet owners whose greed, self-interest, and sometimes genuine love for animals perpetuate what is now a crisis of survival for a growing number of wild species. He turns up stories of exotic creatures of all sorts—from monkeys to chimpanzees, cheetahs to tigers, piranhas to pythons. Among the many people he meets is breeder Connie Casey at “Chimparty,” the Missouri compound where the headline-grabbing Travis the chimp was born and raised, to hear her thoughts about what prompted Travis to attack Charla Nash. Woven throughout with riveting stories from law enforcement officials, federal prosecutors, animal rights activists, and others involved in the business of international animal smuggling,
Forbidden Creatures is both an important book and a compelling, first-person narrative written in Laufers hallmark conversational, entertaining style.
Review
Forbidden Creatures addresses an important issue with major environmental and ethical consequencesthe alarming spread of animal smuggling. Lets hope it helps stem the tide.” Allison Chin, president, Sierra Club This book is a wild romp through backyards and bedrooms full of exoticsometimes dangerouscreatures. And it is an exploration of the human psyche: What drives some people to become outlaws just to satisfy their desire to subjugate natures other beasts? Laufer has hit another home run.”
Mark Bauman, National Geographic Society
In praise of The Dangerous World of Butterflies: [A] compelling, all-angles examination. . . . Laufer delivers an absorbing science lesson for fans of the colorful bugs.” --Publishers Weekly "Recommended for scientists and lay readers who enjoyed Susan Orleans The Orchid Thief." Library Journal "Like The Orchid Thief, The Dangerous World of Butterflies takes us deep into the dark heart of obsessed collectors and the passionate activism of people working to repopulate species like the Palos Verdes blue. Worlds within worlds: Laufer, a veteran reporter on cultural and political borders, understands how these worlds cross and collide. His book is a Venn diagram of the beautiful and bizarre." --Los Angeles Times "[Laufer's] book is charming and his attention to detail, combined with a real gift for describing these fascinating characters -- like calling entomologist Arthur Shapiro "an endless litany of intriguing butterfly stories" -- made me want to read everything else he has written." --Andrew Ervin, Washington Post "...Laufer's The Dangerous World of Butterflies packs real entertainment wallop in a book filled with informed tidbits custom-designed for cocktail hour." --P. Joseph Potocki, The Bohemian "A charming . . . meditation on butterflies and the people who love them." --Kirkus "The Dangerous World of Butterflies: the Startling Subculture of Criminals, Collectors, and Conservationists by Peter Laufer is an eye-opening peek into the world of butterfly collecting. From true crime to heated debates between butterfly conservationists and butterfly farmers, this book reads like a novel." --Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Synopsis
What is being smuggled, from where and howand whydo so many people keep illicit, dangerous pets?
***
On the heels of his acclaimed The Dangerous World of Butterflies, investigative journalist Peter Laufer is back to chronicle his worldwide quest to penetrate the underworld of international animal smuggling. In Forbidden Creatures, Laufer exposes the network of hunters, traders, breeders, and customers who constitute this nefarious businesswhich, estimated at $10 to $20 billion annually, competes with illegal drug and weapons trafficking in the money it earns criminals.
Laufer asks: What is being smuggled, from where and why? What is being done to stop the illegal trading and irresponsible breeding? Taking readers to exotic and often lawless locales, Laufer introduces brazen and dangerous traders and wealthy customers whose greed and mindless self-interest perpetuate what is now a crisis of survival for a growing number of wild species.
Woven throughout with riveting stories from law enforcement officials and federal prosecutors, Forbidden Creatures is a compelling, first-person narrative written in Laufers hallmark conversational, entertaining style.
Synopsis
On the heels of his acclaimed "The Dangerous World of Butterflies," investigative journalist Laufer exposes the network of hunters, traders, and customers who constitute the nefarious business of international animal smuggling.
Synopsis
Laufer exposes the network of hunters, traders, breeders, and customers who constitute this nefarious business—which, estimated at $10 to $20 billion annually, competes with illegal drug and weapons trafficking in the money it earns criminals.
About the Author
Peter Laufer, PhD, is the author of more than a dozen books, including his widely praised The Dangerous World of Butterflies (Lyons Press) and Wetback Nation: The Case for Opening the Mexican-American Border. He is the James Wallace Chair in Journalism at the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication. More about his work, which has received the George Polk, Edward R. Murrow, and other awards, at peterlaufer.com.
Table of Contents