Australia's Amazing Kangaroos: Their conservation, unique biology and coexistence with human [Book Review]

2013·0.55 MB·English

by  Robert L Wallis

BookReviews
edition. So what has been changed? The first tratedtogood effect.
major addition has been the inclusion ofmore Who is the audience for this book? I would
datatosubstantiateandillustratethebiologyof expect naturalists who ponder on the signifi-
kangaroos. For example, we now have a graph cance and adaptive advantages of behaviour,
showingthatkangarooshaveanamazingability physiologyandanatomywouldenjoythebook.
toincreasespeedofhoppingwithlittleincrease Scientistswillappreciateitsrigorous,evidence-
in metabolic rate (and thus energy expendi- basedapproach.Itisnotacoffeetablebook(al-
ture). Methodsofageestimationofanimalsare though thereare 16colourplates); rather,itisa
provided in some detail. There are some other bookthatseekstodemonstrate andexplain the
minorimprovements:thereisnowoneconsoli- remarkable, advanced adaptations kangaroos
dated referencelistinsteadoflistingreferences havetotheirmanyenvironments.
perchapter.
Secondly, the material has been significantly
updated. I have reviewedsomeneweditions of RobWallis
books that have barelychanged; this is not the HorshamCampuUnsivReersseiatrycohfPBraelclianrcatt
case with Kangaroos. Indeed, I counted some Horsham,Victoria3402
47 new references published since the original
edition. The book is written well and is illus-
Australia’s Amazing Kangaroos: Their conservation, unique
biology and coexistence with humans
by Ken Richardson
Publisher: CSIROpublishing Collingwood,2012. 240pages,paperback.
,
ISBN: 9780643097391. RRP$49.95
Someyears ago at an international conference
I had difficultyin explainingto some delegates AUST
fromwhere Icame. SomethoughtIcamefrom
Austria, while others were convinced I came
from the UK. The problem was solved by my
hopping brieflywith arms in front—aha, Aus- KANG
tralia, they all said at once. Kangaroos = Aus-
tralian!
Ken Richardsons excellent book aims to
‘bridge the ever-widening gap between the
mountains of detailed information found in
the serious scientific literature and the many
members ofthe public who wish to be better
informedaboutAustralia’siconickangaroos.In
todays rapidly changing world, the better we
areinformedaboutournativeanimalsthebet-
tertheirprospectsforsurvival’ (pagev).
Theresultisascientificallyauthoritative,con-
temporary, beautifully illustrated book that is KINKk'H.AKDSON
Vol 130 (1) 2013 57
BookReviews
essentiallywritten intwosections. So who will gain most by buying the book?
Inthefirst,abriefaccountofmarsupialevolu- Readers will need a reasonable background
tion,kangaroocharacteristicsandconservation knowledge of mammalian biology. They will
status precedes a species by species account need an understanding of biological terms,
of each member of the suborder Macropo- although there is a glossary to help a reader’s
diformes. This section could be considered an comprehension. Thebookwillcertainlyappeal
updateonRonStrahans (andSteve Van Dycks tonaturalists-thefirstsectionwillhelpinma-
updated) seminal work The Mammals ofAus- cropodid identification while the latter chap-
tralia - complete with the species’ distinctive ters provide anatomical, physiological and be-
features,distribution,threateningfactors,man- havioural bases for observations people make
agementactionsandanexcellentphotograph. inthefield.
The second section covers Adaptation and Biologystudentswillenjoytheclearpresenta-
Function (morphologicaladaptations,mobility tion, up to date science and lucid explanation
and movement, diet, reproduction etc.), Con- ofsomequitesophisticatedbiologicalconcepts.
servation, and finally Kangaroos and Humans The case studies—Heirisson Prong Peninsula
Today, which includes an informative account (Shark Bay) reintroduction of the Burrow-
ofthekangaroo harvestingindustry. ing Bettong and the Proserpine Rock Wallaby
Thislastchapterdistinguishesthisbookfrom recovery plan—provide excellent accounts of
manyothersontodaysmarket,includingDaw- conservation managementwithrealistic evalu-
sons Kangaroos, which I have reviewed previ- ationsoftheirsuccess.
ously in this issue (see p. 56). For example, a In the interests ofreadability, sources are not
most useful Appendix outlines procedures to citedinthetextandthebibliographyisthinand
beusedwhenkangaroosarecommerciallyhar- quite general. This detracts from its usefulness
vestedfrom thefourstatesinwhichtheindus- to researchers and students alike. Steve Van
try is legally operating. Hopefully this chapter Dyck’s name is misspelled and Emeritus
will inform the current and sometimes heated Professor Ian Hume is given two such awards,
debate about harvesting kangaroos as a useful buttheseareminordistractionsfromanother-
resourceversusprotectinga much-loved natu- wise mostvaluable addition to the popularlit-
ralicon. Ofcourse,such adiscussionisfraught eratureonwhatmostpeopleregardasthemost
—
withchallenges,withprotagonistsarguingfrom Australianofanimals thekangaroos.
quite different platforms (ethical/moral/aes-
theticversuspragmatic/resourceutilisation).
Thisisawellwrittenandwellpresentedbook.
Its acknowledgements are awho’swho ofAus- RobWallis
tralian mammalogy and the photographs are HorshamCampusResearchPrecinct
excellent. UniversityofBallarat
Horsham,Victoria3402
58 TheVictorianNaturalist