A Passion For Wildlife

A Passion for Wildlife chronicles the history of the Canadian Wildlife Service and the evolution of Canadian wildlife policy over its first half century. It presents the exploits and accomplishments of a group of men and women whose dedication to the ideals of science, conservation, and a shared vision of Canada as a country that treasures its natural heritage has earned them the respect of their profession around the world.

Tony Fitzjohn, part missionary, part madman, has been called “one of the world’s most endangered creatures.” An internationally renowned field expert on African wildlife, he is best known for the eighteen years he spent helping Born Free’s George Adamson return more than forty leopards and lions—including the celebrated Christian—to the wild in central Kenya. Born Wild is the memoir of Fitzjohn’s extraordinary life. It shows how a man driven by an impossibly restless spirit can do almost anything, from being a bouncer in a brothel, to surviving a vicious lion attack, to fighting with the Tanzanian government, to being appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire by the Queen. A notorious hell-raiser given to scrapes with bandits, evil policemen, and wicked politicians, who has been shot at by poachers and chewed up by lions, Fitzjohn is also a wonderful raconteur. Shenanigans aside, he belongs to that rare species of humans who have sought refuge and meaning in a life truly dedicated to the restoration of the animal kingdom. Many times Tony Fitzjohn has put his life on the line for the cause in which he believes. Born Wild is the story of that passion.

Co-published by The Vermont Fish & Widlife Department, The Nature Conservancy, and Vermont Land Trust--a revised and updated 2nd edition This book is a must-have for anyone wanting to understand Vermont's forests, wetlands, mountaintops, and shores. Richly illustrated with beautiful line drawings and stunning color photographs, this accessible field guide will delight outdoor explorers and armchair naturalists alike. The book starts with an introduction to the natural community concept and the factors influencing our natural systems, from wind and water to soil and rocks. Then, the book offers a lucid and enjoyable journey into Vermont's geologic past, with stories of colliding continents, sea floor sediments, and mysterious whale bones. This follows with a journey through all of Vermont's nine distinct biophysical regions, from the cold and wild Northeastern Highlands to the warm and dry Taconic Mountains. The bulk of the book describes Vermont's natural communities--its northern hardwood forests, dry oak woodlands, alpine tundra, cedar swamps, bogs, and marshes--in comprehensive detail. Ecological settings, including geology, soils, climate, and natural disturbance processes, are described for each community, along with complete lists of characteristic plants and animals, as well as places to visit. Wetland, Woodland, Wildland is the definitive guide to Vermont's natural communities, and is packed with information unavailable elsewhere. It offers practical information for naturalists, teachers, students, landowners, land managers, foresters, conservation planners, and all those with a love of nature who want to learn more about their surroundings. The first edition of this book, published in 2000, has become a mainstay for naturalists and students throughout Vermont and surrounding states and provinces. This second edition is completely updated to incorporate new research and a growing knowledge about natural communities, as well as a deeper understanding of climate change and its implications for conservation into the future. This newly updated book will be a prized addition to your natural history library, but it won't remain on the shelf. You will want to take it with you every time you explore the outdoors. Each paragraph will bring new insights and will deepen your understanding and appreciation of wild nature around you. You will surely want to share this book with friends.

The foremost experts on the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation come together to discuss its role in the rescue, recovery, and future of our wildlife resources. At the end of the nineteenth century, North America suffered a catastrophic loss of wildlife driven by unbridled resource extraction, market hunting, and unrelenting subsistence killing. This crisis led powerful political forces in the United States and Canada to collaborate in the hopes of reversing the process, not merely halting the extinctions but returning wildlife to abundance. While there was great understanding of how to manage wildlife in Europe, where wildlife management was an old, mature profession, Continental methods depended on social values often unacceptable to North Americans. Even Canada, a loyal colony of England, abandoned wildlife management as practiced in the mother country and joined forces with like-minded Americans to develop a revolutionary system of wildlife conservation. In time, and surviving the close scrutiny and hard ongoing debate of open, democratic societies, this series of conservation practices became known as the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. In this book, editors Shane P. Mahoney and Valerius Geist, both leading authorities on the North American Model, bring together their expert colleagues to provide a comprehensive overview of the origins, achievements, and shortcomings of this highly successful conservation approach. This volume • reviews the emergence of conservation in late nineteenth–early twentieth century North America • provides detailed explorations of the Model's institutions, principles, laws, and policies • places the Model within ecological, cultural, and socioeconomic contexts • describes the many economic, social, and cultural benefits of wildlife restoration and management • addresses the Model's challenges and limitations while pointing to emerging opportunities for increasing inclusivity and optimizing implementation Studying the North American experience offers insight into how institutionalizing policies and laws while incentivizing citizen engagement can result in a resilient framework for conservation. Written for wildlife professionals, researchers, and students, this book explores the factors that helped fashion an enduring conservation system, one that has not only rescued, recovered, and sustainably utilized wildlife for over a century, but that has also advanced a significant economic driver and a greater scientific understanding of wildlife ecology. Contributors: Leonard A. Brennan, Rosie Cooney, James L. Cummins, Kathryn Frens, Valerius Geist, James R. Heffelfinger, David G. Hewitt, Paul R. Krausman, Shane P. Mahoney, John F. Organ, James Peek, William Porter, John Sandlos, James A. Schaefer

The funny thing about being chewed up by a lion is that they don't bite chunks out of you—they suffocate you. All that firepower and they use a pillow. I suppose I should be glad..." Born Wild is a story of passion, adventure, and skulduggery on the front line of African conservation. Following Tony Fitzjohn's journey from London bad boy to African wildlife warrior, the story has at its heart a series of love affairs with the world's most beautiful and endangered creatures. Fitzjohn tells of his 20 years in Kenya with George Adamson of Born Free fame—a time of discovery, isolation, and frequent danger living far from civilization. And when he was prevented from reintroducing any more animals into the wild and made unwelcome in the country he loved, Fitzjohn had to start anew in Tanzania. Sometimes a thriller, sometimes a love story, and at other times a howl of despair, Born Wild is the moving story of how one man stood up for the world's most beautiful and endangered creatures.

Experience the thrilling adventures in wildlife conservation from "the Indiana Jones of Biology" (Entrepreneur) in this action-packed and educational memoir filled with danger and intrigue. Very few individuals can truthfully say that their work impacts every person on earth. Forrest Galante is one of them. As a wildlife biologist and conservationist, Galante devotes his life to studying, rediscovering, and protecting our planet’s amazing lifeforms. Part memoir, part biological adventure, Still Alive celebrates the beauty and determined resiliency of our world, as well as the brave conservationists fighting to save it. In his debut book, Galante takes readers on an exhilarating journey to the most remote and dangerous corners of the world. He recounts miraculous rediscoveries of species that were thought to be extinct and invites readers into his wild life: from his upbringing amidst civil unrest in Zimbabwe to his many globetrotting adventures, including suspenseful run-ins with drug cartels, witch doctors, and vengeful government officials. He shares all of the life-threatening bites, fights, falls, and jungle illnesses. He also investigates the connection between wildlife mistreatment and human safety, particularly in relation to COVID-19. Still Alive is much more than just a can’t-put-down adventure story bursting with man-eating crocodiles, long-forgotten species rediscovered, and near-death experiences. It is an impassioned, informative, and undeniably inspiring examination of the importance of wildlife conservation today and how every individual can make a difference.

"Jeremy was 'best' in ever sense of the world. His passion for animals, which is so delightfully revealed in this book, made him the perfect acolyte to Gerry's mission to save species from extinction." - Lee Durrell MBE.The Touch of Durell is packed full of gorgeous photos of gorillas, cheetahs and lion tamarins and is a celebration of a lifetime spent in conservation. For more than 30 years Jeremy Mallinson was Gerald Durrell's right-hand man at the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust. Widely regarded as a trailblazer in the world of conservation, he has devoted his life to the care and collection of endangered species.Becoming Director of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust after the death of Gerald Durrell, it is Mallinson's marvellous ability to relate to animals - and convey his enthusiasm for them to the rest of us with infectious vigour - that have made him such a powerful champion for wildlife around the world.During the mid-1950s, Jeremy Mallinson saw service in the regular army of the Federation of Rhodesia & Nyasaland (RNSC). On his return to his home in Jersey, and after having read Gerald Durrell's classic My Family and Other Animals , he joined the staff of Durrell's newly established Jersey Zoological Park in May 1959. During his 42 year career in zoos and conservation he studied animals in Africa, Asia and South America. He served as Gerald Durrell's Deputy, and then Zoological Director of the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust. After his mentor's death in 1995, he was appointed Director of the renamed Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.Jeremy has written more than 200 papers and articles, addressed conferences in over 20 different countries and is the author of 9 books. He has received many awards for his services to animal conservation worldwide, including the World Zoo Organisation's 'Heini Hediger Award'; the Zoological Society of San Diego's 'Gold Medal Award for Conservation'; and the IUCN/SSC/Conservation Planning Specialist Group's 'Ulysses S. Seal Innovation in Conservation Award'.

The wildlife veterinarian and environmental advocate shares highly visual profiles of amazing animals from around the world, covering subjects ranging from animal anatomy and behavior to the work of specialist caregivers and how kids can help protect endangered species.