Crooked Cats

Big cats—tigers, leopards, and lions—that make prey of humans are commonly known as “man-eaters.” Anthropologist Nayanika Mathur reconceptualizes them as cats that have gone off the straight path to become “crooked.” Building upon fifteen years of research in India, this groundbreaking work moves beyond both colonial and conservationist accounts to place crooked cats at the center of the question of how we are to comprehend a planet in crisis. There are many theories on why and how a big cat comes to prey on humans, with the ecological collapse emerging as a central explanatory factor. Yet, uncertainty over the precise cause of crookedness persists. Crooked Cats explores in vivid detail the many lived complexities that arise from this absence of certain knowledge to offer startling new insights into both the governance of nonhuman animals and their intimate entanglements with humans. Through creative ethnographic storytelling, Crooked Cats illuminates the Anthropocene in three critical ways: as method, as a way of reframing human-nonhuman relations on the planet, and as a political tool indicating the urgency of academic engagement. Weaving together “beastly tales” spun from encounters with big cats, Mathur deepens our understanding of the causes, consequences, and conceptualization of the climate crisis.

"The last decade has seen the increasing entry of big cats-lions, tigers, and leopards-into human settlements in India. Most big cats co-reside with humans. But some have become "crooked"-killing people, often serially, and frightening residents in villages and cities. This new book, by big cat connoisseur and anthropologist Nayanika Mathur, lays bare the peculiar atmosphere of terror these encounters create, reinforced by stories, conspiracy theories, rumors, anger, and news reports about charismatic "celebrity" cats. There are various theories of why and how a big cat turns to eating people, and Mathur lays out the dominant ideas offered by the residents with whom she works. These vary from the effects of climate change and habitat loss to history and politics. The latter, for example, include the idea of big cats turning on humans for retribution for past injustices (poaching or hunting). Still, no one, including the scientists who study animal behavior, has been able to explain the highly individualized reasons why some cats turn against humans and others do not. Beautifully detailed in its portrayal of India's places, people, and animals, Crooked Cats sheds light on how we understand nonhuman animals and the growing intensity of human-nonhuman conflict in the Anthropocene"--

Cats are soft, beautiful pets, but they require special care. Cats examines various cat breeds and their unique needs, as well as the laws, regulations, challenges, and controversies regarding owning these animals. It also looks at the industry and communities that have sprung up to support cat ownership and the many ways cats bring joy to their owners. Features include a glossary, references, websites, source notes, and an index. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Essential Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

Man and leopards have been living in close proximity since ages, but in the last century, the situation has turned against the latter due to some natural and mostly man-made factors. Therefore, the peaceful coexistence between the two has been replaced by constant skirmishes. Strangely, when we witness a rise in such conflicts in other parts of the country, there is a friendly and sacred bond seen between the 'Rabaris' and these cats in Jawai and Bera in the Pali district of Rajasthan, where leopards are revered by 'Rabaris' who term themselves as devotees of the Hindu God ('Shiv Bhagat') and describe leopards as the dwellers of the jungle ('Banwasi'). This is indeed a mystery that remains unresolved to this date and requires detailed explanations and straightforward answers. The book, 'Whispers of Leopard' seeks to provide insight into the natural world from the leopard's perspective. As human-leopard conflicts rise, fostering a compassionate attitude towards these creatures becomes crucial. It will be useful to those interested in wildlife conservation and exploration.

An anthology of original verse (plus a few translations from the Spanish and Ancient Egyptian) by the prize-winning poet and photographer, John Howard Reid. His work covers a wide variety of themes and genres, ranging from metrical ballads to prose poems, from the comic to the dramatic, from wide-ranging to highly personal, from the quietly descriptive to the impassioned didactic. Illustrated throughout with black-and-white photographs.

TRAGIC RABBIT'S OWN FAVORITES PRESENTED IN THIS QUALITY TRADE SOFTCOVER CHOCK-FULL OF PRETTY PIX - GREAT FOR GIFTS OR YOUR OWN COLLECTION. BOOK CONTAINS *ALL* OF THE FOLLOWING TITLES ON VARIED SUBJECTS: SOMETHING ABOUT TOM, SACRED BAND OF THEBES, LISTEN (POEM), SHILOH, DER COWBOY, A MOMENT IN MEMPHIS, HIGH KINGS (POEM), ELEGY FOR A FAIRY, KING OF SHREDS AND PATCHES, ANTIQUE GODS (POEM), DOG BOYS, LAND OF THE PHARAOHS, ANTIQUE GODS DO GATHER (POEM), ELEGY FOR A FAIRY, SING JOHNNIE O'SHEA!, ON THE LONELY OCEAN, A FONDNESS FOR PICKLES, THE TRAMP, DEATH DOTH BITE (POEM) AND GRAVITY IN GARDENS. ALSO AVAILABLE IN HARDBACK WITH DUSTJACKET. CLICK ON TITLE LINK FOR PREVIEW AND BOOK DETAILS.