Synopses & Reviews
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Since the year 1900, cheetah footprints quickly dwindled in African dirt as the species plummeted from more than 100,000 to fewer than 10,000. At the Cheetah Conservation Fund's (CCF) African headquarters in Namibia, Laurie Marker and her team save these stunning, swift, and slender creatures from extinction. Since the organization's start in 1990, they've rescued more than 900 cheetahs, most of whom have been returned to the wild.
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; But this arduous challenge continues. For most African livestock farmers, cheetahs are the last thing they want to see on their properties. In the 1980s, as many as 19 cheetahs per farmer died each year. Cheetahs were considered vermin--but, in learning more about this magnificent species, we know this is far from true.
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Today, CCF acts as a liaison between the farmers and the cheetahs, in order to promote cohabitation in an ecosystem that cannot thrive without the existence of the precious and predatory cheetah. On a wild ride through the African wilderness--sometimes sniffing out scents left in the dirt--Sy Montgomery and Nic Bishop join CCF in studying the cheetah's ecological, genetic, and behavioral patterns in order to chase down the fastest animal on land and save the species--before it is too late.
Review
“Although Turner covers a lot of ground, including some fascinating behavioral science, she also tells the stories of individual animals.” —Natural History Magazine
“Turner's stirring portrait spotlights a scientist's invaluable contributions to animal study; the gritty, thrilling particulars of fieldwork; and the urgent necessity to protect wild creatures and their habitats.” —Starred, Booklist
“Taking young readers to the ends of the earth . . . Pamela S. Turner offers an absorbing introduction to a scientist in the field—and in the savannah, the forest, the mountains and any other remote animal habitat you can think of.” —Washington Post Book World
“A Life in the Wild can obviously be used as an enrichment book, but it is far more than that . . .this is a wonderful book for kids to read to see that science is definitely not all done by Einstein-like caricatures in some messy lab.” —National Science Teachers Association (NSTA.org)
“Pamela S. Turners A Life in the Wild is the only biography written for children (ages 10 and up) about this man on a mission.”—Wildlife Conservation Magazine
“Turner neatly blends lively accounts of Schallers life in various wildernesses with wife and kids with more serious discussion of his work and seminal discoveries about animal behavior.”—Bulletin of the Center for Childrens Books
“The writing is both clear and lively.”—School Library Journal
“This introduction to an environmental hero, the first for young readers, is timely and inspiring, and the endmatter appropriately includes suggestions for reader involvement in conservation activities.” — Starred, Kirkus Reviews
“Animal lovers and conservation-minded students will enjoy this excellent introduction to Schaller and his ideas.” —VOYA
Review
"Bishopand#8217;s stunning cheetah photographs will draw readers into this appealing and balanced picture of a conservationist at work."
and#8212;Kirkus, starred review
Synopsis
For more than fifty years, explorer-naturalist George Schaller has been on a mission: to save the worlds great wild beasts and their environments. In this compelling biography, illustrated with Schallers own striking photographs, Pamela S. Turner examines the amazing life and groundbreaking work of the man
International Wildlife calls “the worlds foremost field biologist.” Schallers landmark research revolutionalized field biology, demonstrating that it is possible to study dangerous animals in their own habitats: mountain gorillas in Central Africa, predatory tigers in India, mysterious snow leopards in the Himalayas, and many others. His insights about species and environment led him to successfully advocate for the protection of over 190,000 square miles of wilderness around the world - an area the size of Spain.
Packed with grand adventure, intriguing science, dramatic photographs, and Schallers own breathtaking descriptions of the natural world and the animals who live in it, this full-color biography brilliantly captures the spirit and passion of George Schallers unusual - and inspiring - life in the wild.
Synopsis
For more than 50 years, explorer-naturalist George Schaller has devoted his life to saving endangered species. In this biography, illustrated with Schaller's own photographs, Turner examines the amazing life and groundbreaking work of the man "International Wildlife" calls "the world's foremost field biologist."
Synopsis
Part of the award-winning Scientists in the Field series,
Chasing Cheetahs gives young readers a firsthand account of the efforts by theand#160;Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia to save the world's fastestand#8212;and Africa's most endangeredand#8212;land animal: the cheetah.
and#160;
About the Author
Sy Montgomery is an author,andnbsp;naturalist, newspaper columnist,andnbsp;scriptwriter, and radio commentator who writes award-winning books for children as well as adults. She lives in Hancock, New Hampshire.andnbsp;Visit her website at symontgomery.com. andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp; Syandnbsp;Montgomery and photographer Nic Bishop won theandnbsp;Sibert Medal in 2011andnbsp;for their collaborative work on Kakapo Rescue:andnbsp;Saving the World's Strangest Parrot,andnbsp;another Scientist in the Field title.andnbsp;andnbsp;