AFRICAS VANISHING WILDLIFE - Hardcover

STUART CHRIS

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1560986786 ISBN 13: 9781560986782

Publisher: Smithsonian, 1996

Synopsis

Documents the peril of Africa's endangered species, explores dwindling wildlife populations, and examines global trends in population growth, species extinction, and decreasing biodiversity

About this title

From Booklist:

When referring to African species, the Stuarts use a scale that measures "endangered" as a 20 percent probability of extinction within 20 years and "vulnerable" as a 10 percent probability in 100 years. They describe animal populations on the decline, and some that are extinct, such as the blue buck antelope, which died out in 1799 (only four moth-eaten museum specimens exist). For each of the animals examined and photographed here (e.g., savanna elephants, black rhinoceros, or Ethiopian wolves), vital statistics are included along with the number still surviving, present dangers, and maps that illustrate how their populations have decreased. The continent of Africa has the fastest growing human population on earth. And most of the problems facing its ecosystem are caused by humans: overpopulation, disease, deforestation, desertification due to overgrazing, and introduced species. The authors, who have written five other books on Africa, believe that the only way to help the vanishing wildlife "is to increase economic wealth and stability, which will lead to a drop in the birth rate." Jennifer Henderson

From Library Journal:

The Stuarts, authors of several books about African wildlife, provide a somber account of the many species endangered by habitat destruction, poaching, and desertification in Africa. Encyclopedia-style entries are arranged in chapters on elephants, rhinos, carnivores, primates, antelopes, other mammals, birds, and reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Most provide a photograph, distribution map, descriptions of behavior, habitat, and conservation efforts, as well as a capsule summary of other data. Some of these animals have barely been studied, but in most cases there is ample information here to support student assignments. Recommended for reference collections in academic and public libraries.?Beth Clewis Crim, Prince William P.L., Va.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Smithsonian
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 1560986786
• ISBN 13: 9781560986782
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 198