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Nature / Animals
$20.00 IN U.S.A.
$23.00 IN CANADA
£13.99 IN U.K.
“The wildlife and wild places of our planet are threatened as never
before and this timely book celebrates those who are struggling
to save species around the world. Hopefully, after reading this book,
you will be inspired to do something yourself to help animals.”
—JANE GOODALL PH.D.,DBE, FOUNDER OF THE JANE GOODALL INSTITUTE
& UN MESSENGER OF PEACE
Julie Scardinais Animal Ambassador and
“I know many of the heroes and am incredibly impressed by 40 Leading
Corporate Curator for SeaWorld Parks & Entertain-
ment. She serves several wildlife organizations their passion. Julie and Jeff chose these folks [because] they have Conservationists Of the nearly 56,000 species assessed by
and mentors youth interested in animals and conser- fascinating stories to tell, and they inspire action in others.” the International Union for the Conservation
and the Animals
vation. She regularly travels into the field to learn
of Nature, one-third are threatened with
about and document projects and conservation —JACK HANNA,HOST OF TV'S POPULAR SERIES JACK HANNA’S INTO THE WILD They Are Committed
issues so important today and shares her passion extinction.
for animals and SeaWorld’s role in rescue and to Saving Wildlife Heroesprofiles the work
conservation as a regular guest on shows such as “I have great respect for wildlife conservationists . . . How exciting
by Julie Scardina of 40 charismatic real-life men and women
Todayand the Tonight Showwith Jay Leno. She lives
that [we] have the ability to save something in [our] lifetime.”
in San Diego, CA. & Jeff Flocken who have devoted their lives to helping
—TED DANSON,ACTOR, OCEAN ADVOCATE, AND OCEANA BOARD MEMBER species survive, including Belinda Low
(zebras), Iain Douglas-Hamilton (elephants),
S
Karen Eckert (sea turtles), S.T. Wong (sun
c
Saving the World One Species at a Time a bear), Steve Galster (wildlife trade) and
r
d Kassie Siegel (climate change). Each of the
Wildlife Heroesprofiles 40 charismatic real-life wildlife conservation icons i
n five chapters—Earth, Water, Air, Fire, and
who are saving endangered species and addressing the issues driving a
How to Help—includes an introduction from
extinction. a
n a famous advocate, including Kuki
d
✚ The illegal wildlife trade is believed to be eclipsed in scope and scale only Gallmann, Ted Danson, Stefanie Powers,
Jeff Flockenis DC Office Director for the Interna- F
by drugs and guns.
tional Fund for Animal Welfare where he leads l Congressman Jay Inslee, and Jack Hanna.
o
the organization’s policy experts advocating for
✚ Species dependent on polar ice are already being negatively impacted by c And each profile explores the unique efforts
animals such as polar bears, lions, whales, tigers, and k
climate change trends. the hero has contributed to saving wildlife,
elephants. Flocken has worked for the US govern- e
ment doing international species conservation; n while also conveying the aspects of their
✚ Oceans provide homes for 95% of life on earth, yet only about 1% are
has consulted on movies, books, and television shows
character that have made them successful
protected from damaging practices.
addressing wildlife issues; and is the cofounder of
ISBN 978-0-7624-4319-2 in their field.
the Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders initia-
Read the stories of the heroes who are solving today's most pressing
tive, providing training for up-and-coming wildlife
leaders. He lives in Arlington, VA. wildlife threats facing the species we love.
VISIT US ON THE WEB!
WWW.RUNNINGPRESS.COM Printed in China 03/12
RUNNING
PRESS
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40 Leading Conservationists
and the Animals They Are
Committed to Saving
by Julie Scardina and
Jeff Flocken
with Photo Editor Sterling Zumbrunn
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© 2012 by Julie Scardina and Jeff Flocken
All rights reserved under the Pan-American and International Copyright Conventions.
Printed in China
This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part, in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any
information storage and retrieval system now known or hereafter invented, without
written permission from the publisher.
Books published by Running Press are available at special discounts for bulk
purchases in the United States by corporations, institutions, and other organizations.
For more information, please contact the Special Markets Department at the
Perseus Books Group, 2300 Chestnut Street, Suite 200, Philadelphia, PA 19103, or call
(800) 810-4145, ext. 5000, or e-mail [email protected].
ISBN 978-0-7624-4319-2
Library of Congress Control Number: 2011939378
E-book ISBN 978-0-7624-4516-5
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Digit on the right indicates the number of this printing
Photo Editor Sterling Zumbrunn
Cover and interior design by Jason Kayser
Typography: Mercury and Proxima Nova
Running Press Book Publishers
2300 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-4371
Visit us on the web!
www.runningpress.com
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CONTENTS
6 Introduction
8 EARTH: WORKING ON THE GROUND
9 INTRODUCTION 55 LEANDRO SILVEIRA
by Kuki Gallmann Jaguar
12 GREGORY RASMUSSEN 60 ELENA BYKOVA
African Painted Dog Saiga
18 BELINDA LOW 65 CLAUDIA FEH
Grevy’s Zebra Przewalski’s Horse
23 CLAUDINE ANDRÉ 71 EUGENE RUTAGARAMA
Bonobo Mountain Gorilla
29 ROGÉRIO CUNHA DE PAULA 77 SHIVANI BHALLA
Maned Wolf Lion
34 JOHN LUKAS 82 CLAUDIO SILLERO
Okapi Ethiopian Wolf
39 LUKE DOLLAR 88 NGUYEN VAN THAI
Fossa Asian Pangolins
44 PATRÍCIA MEDICI 94 LAURIE MARKER
Tapirs Cheetah
49 RAOUL DU TOIT 100 IAIN DOUGLAS-HAMILTON
African Rhinoceroses African Elephants
106 WATER: WORKING IN THE OCEANS AND RIVERS
107 INTRODUCTION 128 KAREN ECKERT
by Ted Danson Sea Turtles
110 BRENT STEWART 134 AMANDA VINCENT
Whale Shark Seahorses
116 GERALD KOOYMAN 140 DAVIDWILEY
Emperor Penguin Great Whales
122 VERA DA SILVA 146 DIANE MCTURK
Amazon River Dolphin Giant River Otter
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152 AIR: WORKING IN THE SKY AND CANOPY
153 INTRODUCTION 177 SIEW TE WONG
by Stefanie Powers Sun Bear
156 ALISON JOLLY 182 DEBORAHTABART
Lemurs Koala
161 MERLIN TUTTLE 187 GEORGE ARCHIBALD
Bats Cranes
166 ROSAMIRA GUILLEN 192 MARC ANCRENAZ
Cotton-top Tamarin Bornean Orangutan
171 FELICITY ARENGO
South American Flamingos
198 FIRE: WORKING ON THE MOST CRITICAL WILDLIFE ISSUES
199 INTRODUCTION 226 SYLVIA EARLE
by Jay Inslee Ocean Degradation
202 KASSIE SIEGEL 232 EDGARDO GRIFFITH
Climate Change Amphibian Decline
208 GRACE GE GABRIEL 238 STEVE GALSTER
Wildlife Consumption Wildlife Trade
214 JUDY ST. LEGER 244 MAY BERENBAUM
WildlifeDisease Pollinator Decline
220 WANGARI MAATHAI
Habitat Loss
250 HOW TO HELP: WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
251 INTRODUCTION 254 DEEPER COMMITMENT
by Jack Hanna
253 DOING YOUR PART 256 SUPPORT THE WORK OF
THE HEROES
262 Acknowledgments 263 Photo Credits
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6 ✚ WILDLIFE HEROES
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I N T R O D U C T I O N
The wildlife heroes featured in this bookare forty These individual species, like the heroes
individuals we admire and respect—acclaimed for selected for the book, were also chosen as being best
their vision, determination, and success. Some of suited to bring a broader message of conservation
them we have known for many years and worked need, and inspiration for action, to readers. We are
closely with, while others we only knew before this compelled to feature these heroes, species and
book through knowledge of their impressive issues as we both feel the heartbreak of what is hap-
accomplishments, or from their stellar reputations pening to the wild animals and wild places we love.
in the field of wildlife conservation. Unless more people help fight the war we are cur-
Admittedly, the assemblage of species we chose rently losing to save species, wild lands, and ocean
to highlight show a bias of the authors, as we have habitats, there will be far less of these incredible
our own personal love for certain animals and creatures and environments left in the world.
direct experiences working in particular conserva- The heroes in this book have dedicated their
tion arenas. So while we both have great fondness lives to preserving these creatures; animals that
for critters like the obscure dwarf wedgemussel are beloved by the world because they are both
and the underrated dung beetle, and understand compelling and fascinating. We are proud to shine
their important roles in their habitats, this book a light on them all. And we sincerely hope that
tends to feature the big charismatic species, the this book will result in more support for the
same ones who rightly or wrongly tend to receive heroes’ critical efforts and in meaningful gains in
the most conservation resources and public atten- the struggle for existence of these amazing
tion. Luckily these same high-profile animals species.
frequently serve vital roles as keystone, flagship,
and indicator species, thereby arguably deserving
the lion’s share of adoration they receive. Julie Scardina and Jeff Flocken
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E A R T H
WORKING ON THE GROUND
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CHAPTER INTRODUCTION
BY KUKI GALLMAN,ACCLAIMED AUTHOR OF IDREAMED
OFAFRICA, ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST, AND FOUNDER OF
THE GALLMAN AFRICA CONSERVANCY
Caring for Eden and actively joined the great world environmental
It was about forty years ago that I moved to Kenya movement. I decided to dedicate my life and
and acquired the responsibility to look after a resources to making a difference and to make Ol
piece of heaven on the Eastern Great Rift Valley, ari Nyiro an example of coexistence between
Ol ari Nyiro, a biodiversity oasis of rugged, dra- people and the wild.
matic landscapes, with a relic forest and natural I became a Kenya citizen and a spokesperson
springs, gorges, and ravines, where endemic for my adopted country on matters of environ-
species of wildlife and flora survived and still do, ment, and transformed the place from an
in stark contrast with the now degraded landscape operating livestock ranch into a nature conser-
surrounding us, from where most indigenous vancy with no domestic stock, where all life is
vegetation has been removed. nurtured and protected.
In the very early ’80s, after the tragic deaths of What was happening at that time? With the col-
both my husband and my son within a short space lapse of Somalia and deserters from that country’s
of time, witnessing the tragic environmental army infiltrating the northern parts of Kenya—their
degradation and loss of habitat and species occur- only wealth their weapons—the killing of rhino and
ring all around Kenya, I resisted attempts from elephants became an unprecedented issue in Kenya,
friends and family to get me to abandon Ol ari and, having lost nine black indigenous rhinoceros in
Nyiro to its destiny and return to my native Italy, Ol ari Nyiro in less than one year, I decided to do
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