This week in his Sunday book review, Mark takes up “When the Last Lion Roars; The Rise and Fall of the King of the Beasts,” Sara Evan’s forthcoming book from Bloomsbury. He seems quite pleased with what he read in it; particularly the way in which the author approaches the high level of complexity that surrounds the conservation of charismatic megafauna in the modern world.
I can’t say that reading Professor Jenks’ book will improve your Cougar or Not skills, but it will present you with a wealth of information regarding the dynamics of the diet, nutrition, diseases, behavior, genetics, prey base, and a number of other important topics pertaining to these much misunderstood and increasingly imperiled animals.
What is the purpose of a zoo? Is it a place offering its visitors to opportunity to view animals from far off lands? Is it a public space where people can gather, perhaps for events such as concerts of simply to meet for a few hours of relaxation? Is it a research institution where the […]
Zoos are amazing places. At their best, the modern forms mix research and spectacle into a melange that has the power to both entertain as well as enlighten. At their worst… well, let us not dwell on that at present. And as to their history; in their previous existence as menageries and indeed, right up into living memory, some have not only been institutions of scientific study, but but also centers of far more social and political influence than we would likely think possible today.