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Summary
Summary
In 1972, Eric Dinerstein was in film school at Northwestern University, with few thoughts of nature, let alone tiger-filled jungles at the base of the Himalayas or the antelope-studded Serengeti plain. Yet thanks to some inspiring teachers and the squawk of a little green heron that awakened him to nature's fundamental wonders, Dinerstein would ultimately become a leading conservation biologist, traveling to these and other remote corners of the world to protect creatures ranging from the striking snow leopard to the homely wrinkle-faced bat.
Tigerland and Other Unintended Destinations takes readers on Dinerstein's unlikely journey to conservation's frontiers, from early research in Nepal to recent expeditions as head of Conservation Science at the World Wildlife Fund. We are there as the author renews his resolve after being swept downstream on an elephant's back, tracks snow leopards in the mountains of Kashmir with a remarkable housewife turned zoologist, and finds unexpected grit in a Manhattanite donor he guides into the wildest reaches of the Orinoco River. At every turn, we meet professed and unprofessed ecologists who share Dinerstein's mission, a cast of free-spirited characters uncommonly committed to-and remarkably successful at-preserving slices of the world's natural heritage.
A simple sense of responsibility, one feels, shines through all of Dinerstein's experiences: not just to marvel at what we see, but to join in efforts sustain the planet's exquisite design. Tigerland's message is clear: individuals make all the difference; if we combine science, advocacy, and passion, ambitious visions for conservation can become reality-even against overwhelming odds.
Reviews (2)
Booklist Review
Dinerstein, currently the World Wildlife Fund's chief scientist, recounts his unintended switch from majoring in filmmaking to studying biology. It began with spotting a little green heron in the wild and has evolved into this travelogue as notable for its candor and insight as for its descriptive lushness, scientific clarity, and compassion for people whose way of life is as endangered as natural habitats. Dinerstein chronicles extreme physical discomfort, some fear, and much wonder in his lively accounts of searching for tigers in Nepal, snow leopards in Kashmir, giant river otters on the Orinoco, and bats in Central America's Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. He also takes readers to Africa, our own Great Plains, New Caledonia, and the Galapagos Islands, gleaning from each journey new information pertaining to the complex and urgent need for global biodiversity conservation, from the drawbacks and benefits of ecotourism to the promising concept of indigenous reserves. Dinerstein's compelling tour of wild places and his vivid portraits of intrepid wildlife defenders offer convincing arguments for providing the treasures of nature with the same reverence and protection we accord cherished works of art. --Donna Seaman Copyright 2005 Booklist
Choice Review
Dinerstein (World Wildlife Fund) has written a thoroughly enjoyable book that combines a memoir of his many field trips to exotic locales with a powerful call for the preservation of species and restoration of natural habitats. His delightful writing style is scientifically accurate but completely accessible to readers who are not well versed in the arcane details of evolutionary biology and ecological theory. His wry sense of humor emerges in frequent references to contemporary popular culture, which he uses to provide a counterpoint to his very detailed and vivid descriptions of natural habitats and exotic animals and plants. The narrative glides effortlessly between stories of his adventures on four continents (Africa, Asia, North America, and South America) and several island clusters. In critical points within each chapter, he shifts the conversation to the theory and practice of conservation biology, the subject of his longstanding professional endeavors and position at the World Wildlife Fund. One of the book's most admirable features is the author's ability to identify the conservation issues that originate with local land use practices while maintaining a respectful understanding of the plight of impoverished people throughout the world. ^BSumming Up: Recommended. All levels. P. E. Hertz Barnard College