Author Description

The last century has witnessed a remarkable change in attitudes towards wildlife, with the focus shifting from conquest or slaughter to conservation, and this volume celebrates that voyage of discovery. Many of the accounts included here are written by former hunters who point out a different relationship between man and animal as they record observations of wildlife for the joy of it. Contemporary accounts of the wild include those of the new class of naturalists such as M. Krishnan who give equal attention to smaller animals and trees. There are stories of the buck, the wild dog, the turtle, the cobra, the comings and goings at a water hole in the summer, and the family life of both the tiger and the elephant.This volume encapsulates the confrontation between hunting and conservation in the 1950s and traces the complete shift in focus to the present day, providing narratives that detail the wealth of birds and beasts that make India so exceptional in terms of natural heritage. It also presents the dilemmas of conservation, making this volume perfect for all those interested in preserving India's amazing host of wildlife.