"But this is often the case when it comes to animals – by the time you eliminate them down to the point when everyone can agree that the species is officially endangered, it's already too late." (p47)One thing I really liked was reading about these scientists and researchers that Ackerman presented. But as Emerson pointed out, a weed is just a flower out of place." (p44) "It's a shame that people want to view animals as either good or bad. They raise funds to help that animal, but often that's so easy and tempting that other animals that are just as valuable, and sometimes much *more* valuable, remain completely ignored." (p44) Part of our problems today come from the fact that even scientists and conservationists tend to take the easy ride and find an animal that's very popular with the public. If you couldn't raise money for an animal, it couldn't be helped. But for years the traditional organizations just ignored bats as too hopeless. I was content to be a member of other conservation organizations and support their efforts. A couple of choice quotes from him: "I never had any ambition to be anything but a good scientist. That makes me really sad.Įven during the 80s, when Ackerman did most of the travel presented in the book, Merlin Tuttle, ecologist and bat researcher, says, "I personally know of caves where people have wiped out millions of bats in one day." Sigh. For example, during the bats chapter, in my notes I wrote: 20 million bats all in one location? That would be quite a sight to see though I imagine you can't find something like that anymore. I think that experience is gone, depressingly. Just the sheer number of animals, often in rural or uninhabited places. I'm not sure if she just never takes photos on her expeditions, but I really wish I could see some of the stuff she saw.īecause to be honest, and I thought this throughout much of the book - I don't think I'll/we'll ever again see the scenes that Ackerman was lucky enough to experience. The one thing that's missing, which I think I mentioned in Rarest of the Rare as well, is photography.
It was really informative and interesting, and I learned a lot. But the surprise for me was the bat chapter. I was really looking forward to the whale chapter, especially since part of it took place in Hawaii - and I really enjoyed it. The book has 4 main sections focusing on 4 different animals: bats, crocodilians (alligators and crocodiles), whales, and penguins.
I finally got a hold of it through my library's inter-library exchange. This book had been on my reading list for a while, ever since I read The Rarest of the Rare: Vanishing Animals, Timeless Worlds, which I loved.
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