Nature's Strongholds: The World's Great Wildlife Reserves

Description

Bengal tigers in the jungles of India. Birds of Paradise in the wilds of New Guinea. Penguins on frozen beaches in Antarctica. These and other charismatic and endangered species find homes within the world's great wildlife reserves. Only a few persons have had the opportunity to visit many of these wildlife sanctuaries and witness these magnificent animals firsthand. Now, for the first time, the splendor of the world's most impressive wildlife reserves is captured on the printed page in this gloriously illustrated book by naturalists Laura and Bill Riley. The Rileys, who received Pulitizer Prize nominations for their book on American wildlife refuges, spent ten years researching this book, visiting reserves on every continent. The 600 sanctuaries featured were chosen on the basis of exhaustive on-scene reports, interviews, and personal experiences. From Ecuador's Galapagos Islands to Tanzania's renowned Serengeti, they represent the last places on earth where the natural world remains intact. Some of the reserves are as large as European countries, others the size of small farms. Many are growing as people everywhere become aware of their beauty and importance. The book includes information on each sanctuary's historical and ecological significance, details about how to visit and what to see, and a comprehensive index for locating individual species. A feast for the eyes, Nature's Strongholds offers a magical excursion into these majestic - and seldom seen - paradises. Anyone who has ever dreamed of taking such a journey will long to have this book. Includes: *150 color photographs *information on each reserve's historical and ecological significance *details on best times to visit as well as monthly temperature and rainfall *descriptions of habitats *75 detailed maps

Laura Riley was a writer and photographer specializing in the natural world. William Riley is a conservationist, writer, and businessman. The Rileys coauthored the "Guide to the [U.S.] National Wildlife Refuges", a Pulitzer Prize nominee.

Winner of the 2004-2005 Lowell Thomas Bronze Award, Category 20: Travel Book, Society of American Travel Writers Foundation Honorable Mention for the 2005 National Outdoor Book Awards, Nature Guidebook Category "The book's comprehensive geographical coverage, as well as the quality of information it provides, will ensure that it will find a broad audience around the world."--Gerhard M. Van Den Top, Times Literary Supplement "Nature's Strongholds ... offers conservationists, wildlife enthusiasts, travel professionals, ecotourists and armchair travelers detailed information about the world's best reserves and parks... [N]o other book compares with this one in scope. It serves as a reminder of what humanity stands to lose in the battle to preserve the world's last natural 'strongholds."--Roger Harris, American Scientist "Wife and husband team the Rileys spent 10 years researching this guide to 600 nature reserves in more than 80 countries visited by 40 million people each year. The weighty result of their endeavors is a lavishly illustrated ... book that will tempt any armchair traveler to get up and go... If we're lucky, what's recorded here will save some amazing creatures and plants from extinction. But the Rileys note the threats, from human settlement growth, logging, mineral and oil exploitation, to war, that make these reserves so necessary."--Paul Nettleton, The Guardian "Outstanding in layout, design, and photography ... this book provides concise, well-written descriptions that capture the essence of each reserve and park... The book makes delightful reading for the armchair traveler and serves as an excellent overview and reference source for hard-to-find information on wildlife and wildlife habitats in more remote areas of the world."--Choice "This exhaustive guide is a veritable encyclopedia... Covering 600 of the world's best reserves, the book summarizes the history and ecology of each and includes the best time to visit, types of animals, nearby lodging and transportation and temperature and rainfall charts... [T]he brilliant photography will have you packing your bags."--San Francisco Chronicle "The Rileys' book has the potential to close ... gaps in protection. It will inspire more people to visit reserves... From aardwolf to zubr (European bison), this volume fills an information gap for scientists, environmental organizations, and anyone interested in the best wild places."--Karlene Schwartz,Bioscience