The Last Rhinos

Author: Lawrence Anthony,Graham Spence

Publisher: Macmillan

ISBN: 125001509X

Category: Nature

Page: 336

View: 6597


When Lawrence Anthony learned that the northern white rhino, living in the war-ravaged Congo, was on the very brink of extinction, he knew he had to act. If the world lost the sub-species, it would be the largest land mammal since the woolly mammoth to go extinct. In The Last Rhinos, Anthony recounts his attempts to save these remarkable animals. The demand for rhino horns in the Far East has turned poaching into a dangerous black market that threatens the lives of not just these rare beasts, but also the rangers who protect them. The northern white rhino's last refuge was in an area controlled by the infamous Lord's Resistance Army, one of the most vicious rebel groups in the world. In the face of unmoving government bureaucracy, Anthony made a perilous journey deep into the jungle to try to find and convince them to help save the rhino. An inspiring story of conservation in the face of brutal war and bureaucratic quagmires, The Last Rhinos will move animal lovers everywhere.

The Last Rhinos

Author: Lawrence Anthony,Graham Spence

Publisher: Pan Macmillan

ISBN: 0283071559

Category: Biography & Autobiography

Page: 384

View: 6016


An extraordinary story of life on a South African game reserve from the 'Indiana Jones of conservation' and the authors of The Elephant Whisperer. Lawrence Anthony's South African game reserve is home to many animals he has saved, from a remarkable herd of elephants to a badly behaved bushbaby called George. When one of his rhinos was brutally slaughtered for her horn, he didn't hesitate to lead an armed response against the poachers. Then he learned that there were only a handful of northern white rhinos left in the wild, living in an area of the Congo controlled by the infamous Lord's Resistance Army and soon to be hunted into extinction. Lawrence knew he had to take action. What followed was an extraordinary adventure, as he headed into the jungle to negotiate with the rebels, while battling to save his own animals from terrible drought and to save the eyesight of his beloved elephant matriarch Nana. The Last Rhinos is peopled with unforgettable characters, both human and animal, and is a sometimes funny, sometimes moving, always exciting read. 'Anthony was a charismatic figure whose life combined Gerald Durrell-esque animal antics with Wilbur Smith bush heroics . . . a rattling read with an urgent message' – BBC Wildlife Magazine

Saving the Last Rhinos

Author: Grant Fowlds,Graham Spence

Publisher: Hachette UK

ISBN: 1472142500

Category: Nature

Page: 352

View: 7937


The remarkable story of Grant Fowlds, a conservationist who has dedicated his life to saving the last rhinos, vividly told with the help of Graham Spence, co-author of the bestselling The Elephant Whisperer. 'A terrific read . . . an outstanding book!' Gary Player and Vivienne Player 'A truly heart-wrenching story, but a must-read for all who value our wild animals and their right to roam free. Grant Fowlds is a Zulu in a white skin and loves the people who hold the key to animal conservation. This is an intriguing true story that sends a clear message to the rest of the world.' Phil Liggett 'Exceptionally readable - a fluid and captivating story . . . a swashbuckling tale.' Dr Dave Cooper, Rhinos Without Borders veterinarian, and Debbie Cooper of iSimangaliso Wetland Park 'A rollicking true-life adventure that celebrates rhinos and people' Guy Rogers, Daily Herald 'Truly awe-inspiring . . . Read this book. You will get a sense of Africa like never before, from a true African soul.' David S. Lee, Limbani in the blockbuster movie Black Panther 'An excellent read . . . both sobering and uplifting' Moira Smith, General Manager Africa & Middle East, Goway Travel What would drive a man to 'smuggle' rhino horn back into Africa at great risk to himself? This is just one of the situations Grant Fowlds has put himself in as part of his ongoing fight against poaching, in order to prove a link between southern Africa and the illicit, lucrative trade in rhino horn in Vietnam. Shavings of rhino horn are sold as a snake-oil 'cure' for colds or impotence, but a rhino's horn has no magical, medicinal properties. It is for this that rhinoceroses are being killed at an escalating rate that puts the survival of the species in jeopardy. This corrupt, illegal war on wildlife has brought an iconic animal to the brink of extinction. Growing up on a farm in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, Grant developed a deep love of nature, turning his back on hunting to focus on saving wildlife of all kinds and the environment that sustains both them and us. He is a passionate conservationist who puts himself on the front line of protecting rhinos in the wild - right now, against armed poachers; but in the longer term, too, through his work with schoolchildren, communities and policymakers. We are most grateful to photographer Gerhard van der Westhuizen for the use of his stunning photograph on the cover of the book.

The Black Rhinos Of Namibia

Author: Rick Bass

Publisher: HarperCollins

ISBN: 0547725825

Category: Nature

Page: 288

View: 601


“An extraordinary exploration and meditation . . . [Bass] transports us along on this wonder-filled tour, full of hardness and hope, into an otherworldly place that mirrors our own.” —National Geographic Traveler Black rhinos are not actually black. They are, however, giant animals with tiny eyes, feet the diameter of laundry baskets, and horns that are prized for both their aesthetic and medicinal qualities. Until recently, these creatures were perched on the edge of extinction, their numbers dwindling as they succumbed to poachers and the ravages of civil war. Now their numbers are rising, thanks to a groundbreaking new conservation method from the Save the Rhino Trust: make sure that rhinos are worth more alive than dead. Rick Bass, who has long worn the uneasy mantle of both activist and hunter, traveled to Namibia to find black rhinos. The tale of his journey provides a deeper understanding of these amazing animals and of just what needs to be done to protect them. “Bass provides a singularly thoughtful portrait of a unique animal, and a meditation on mankind’s relationship to both it and the natural world as a whole.” —Minneapolis Star Tribune

The Last Rhino War: A Journey of Survival

Author: Rory Johnston

Publisher: BookLocker.com, Inc.

ISBN: 1647192048

Category: Fiction

Page: 302

View: 7431


This is a story of one man, Mike Delport, a professional hunter, and his journey as he is caught up in in the unspeakable violence of the illegal rhino horn trade to his redemption through love and newfound commitment to conservation. At his hunting ranch in South Africa, times are tough. Hunting of rhino has just been banned, cutting off Mike's income. Rhino poaching is on the rise just as his income is falling. Mike is forced to consider illegally selling the horns to a crime syndicate himself, out of desperation. His quest for survival takes him deep into the murky underworld and he meets Eva, herself struggling for survival from her life on the Cape Flats, and they fall in love. Can this love blossom amid the savagery of the international rhino horn poaching gangs and their different cultural upbringing? Can Mike persuade Eva to share his devotion to his endangered rhinos and make a way forward to ensure their safety from extinction as a species? This is a journey of survival for both man and the animals and one cannot help be drawn into the battle. Discover the underworld and the deep connections the poachers have established throughout Southern Africa as they plunder with almost impunity as the world loses up to two to three rhinos a day. Can humanity allow this to happen? Time is not on our side and "The Last Rhino War" will awaken the reader to the horror and urgency as the world allows wanton slaughter of it's remaining rhinos. This book is a must read for anyone concerned about conservation in Africa.