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Saving Endangered Species:

Lessons in Wildlife Conservation from Indianapolis Prize Winners
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Wildlife conservation is at a critical juncture. While large, charismatic mammals may be the first animals that come to mind'the mere 3,000 wild tigers still in existence, the giraffes declared endangered for the first time just last year'it is not only these magnificent keystone species disappearing. A full third of all studied birds, reptiles, and mammals have suffered devastating population losses, and a third of all insects are now endangered, including crucial pollinators that sustain worldwide food supply. Over 15,000 animal species are now considered to be threatened with extinction.

There are, however, bright spots that provide optimism'many of them due to the efforts of a small group of scientists and activists. In Saving Endangered Species, Robert W. Shumaker brings together ten conservation heroes, seven of them winners of the Indianapolis Prize, three of them recipients of the Jane Alexander Global Wildlife Ambassador Award. With moving immediacy, each wildlife defender offers their unique perspective on the state of wildlife conservation and the future of the natural world. Bringing to life their work in the field, each contributor also explains key concepts in wildlife conservation, reveals why they are important, and discusses what kinds of work can be done to address biodiversity loss.

Contributors sharing their stories in their own words include

  • George Schaller, one of the founding fathers of wildlife conservation, who conducted the field work that resulted in the establishment of the world's largest wildlife preserve, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
  • Iain Douglas-Hamilton, who is widely credited with developing the metrics and methods that stemmed the tide of elephant poaching for ivory in Africa
  • Steven Amstrup, who discovered the disturbing truth that the sea ice that polar bears rely on for traveling, hunting, and raising their young was disappearing
  • Russell Mittermeier, who has discovered over 20 new animal species, conducted field work in more than 30 countries around the globe, and authored 15 books on biodiversity
  • Harrison Ford, Academy AwardGÇôwinning actor, who has been a passionate wildlife advocate and board member of Conservation International for over 25 years
  • Sigourney Weaver, three-time Academy Award nominee, whose work with the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund has helped save thousands of gorillas in Rwanda and Congo

    This unique book aims to win new recruits, inspire biologists and conservationists already in the field, and illustrate the profession's fundamental scientific tenets through wildlife champions' own exciting narratives. Covering issues from reproduction and prey-predator relationships to population dynamics and community engagement, Saving Endangered Species also addresses such thorny topics as overhunting, retaliatory killing by farmers, development-driven habitat loss, and the illegal wildlife trade. By encompassing a broad spectrum of subjects, this volume ultimately gives readers a first-person look into what it takes to dedicate oneself to the crucial field of wildlife conservation.

    Contributors: Jane Alexander, Steven C. Amstrup, George Archibald, Michael I. Crowther, Iain Douglas-Hamilton, Harrison Ford, Carl Jones, Russell Mittermeier, George B. Schaller, Robert W. Shumaker, Sigourney Weaver, Patricia Chapple Wright

  • Foreword: Reach BeyondHarrison Ford2018 Recipient of the Jane Alexander Global Wildlife Ambassador AwardIntroduction. Conservation Science, Biodiversity, and the Indianapolis PrizeDr. Robert W. ShumakerPresident and CEO of the Indianapolis ZooChapter 1. Dancing with Cranes: It's Their Story and My StoryDr. George Archibald 2006 Recipient of the Indianapolis PrizeChapter 2. The Natural History of a Field BiologistDr. George B. Schaller 2008 Recipient of the Indianapolis PrizeChapter 3. Among the ElephantsDr. Iain Douglas-Hamilton2010 Recipient of the Indianapolis PrizeChapter 4. Wild Things and Wild PlacesJane Alexander2012 Recipient of the Jane Alexander Global Wildlife Ambassador AwardChapter 5. Polar Bears, Melting Ice, and Turning Conservation on Its HeadDr. Steven C. Amstrup2012 Recipient of the Indianapolis PrizeChapter 6. Deep in Time, Broad in Scope: Conservation Science Empowers Communities and Saves Species in MadagascarDr. Patricia Chapple Wright 2014 Recipient of the Indianapolis PrizeChapter 7. Challenging Boundaries: The Legacy of Dian FosseySigourney Weaver2016 Recipient of the Jane Alexander Global Wildlife Ambassador AwardChapter 8. Lessons from the Dodo: Saving the Endangered Wildlife of MauritiusDr. Carl Jones 2016 Recipient of the Indianapolis PrizeChapter 9. Forests and Primates Worldwide: A Lifetime of Challenges, Opportunities, and TriumphsDr. Russ Mittermeier 2018 Recipient of the Indianapolis PrizeAfterwordThe Steep and Rugged PathwayMichael I. CrowtherFounder of the Indianapolis PrizeIndex

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