Overview

What hope remains for Africa's black rhinos? This book addresses that question by mixing local people and attitudes with biology and adventure, while describing the challenges of doing ecological fieldwork in a difficult setting, accompanied by a small child. It moves beyond typical nature studies by featuring real world components of conservation - the delicate mix of western and economic influences, and personal commitment.

Full Product Details

Author:   Carol Cunningham (Biotechnician, Department of Environmental and Resource Studies, University of Nevada, Reno) ,  Joel Berger (Professor of Conservation Biology, Program in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology, University of Nevada, Reno) ,  Joel Berrger
Publisher:   Oxford University Press Inc
Imprint:   Oxford University Press Inc
Dimensions:   Width: 15.40cm , Height: 2.00cm , Length: 23.40cm
Weight:   0.423kg
ISBN:  

9780195138801

ISBN 10:   0195138805
Pages:   272
Publication Date:   30 March 2000
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Undergraduate ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand  
We will order this item for you from a manufactured on demand supplier.

Table of Contents

A Black Rhino Time Line Map I. YEAR OF THE MOPANE FLY [1991] 1: In the Rhino's Path 2: Bumbling around in the Bush 3: Trial by Fire 4: Etosha 5: Dark Nights and Moonlight 6: Mom 7: The Unforgiving Desert 8: A Tracker Appears 9: It Depends on Your Perspective 10: Through the Eyes of a Poacher 11: The Missus II. YEAR OF THE TSONGOLOLO [1992] 12: A Caprivi Crossing 13: Rhino Illusions 14: Namib Edge 15: Buried in Sand 16: Lions and Hyenas 17: The Dead and the Brave 18: Concrete Corridors 19: Of Science and Ecology III. YEAR OF THE SCORPION [1993] 20: The Europa Hof 21: Trails of Dust 22: Of Moths and Maggots 23: The Zimbabwe Massacre 24: Missing Calves 25: The Witch Doctor's Revenge 26: The Pelvis and the Lion 27: Horn Traders IV. YEAR OF THE HUMAN [1994] 28: Rhino Rhetoric 29: Xenophobia Epilogue Postscript Acknowledgments Glossary Selected Bibliography Index

Reviews

In Namibia a radical solution [to stop the wholesale slaughter of rhinos] has been tried--removing the rhino's horns to remove the poacher's desire to kill. The two authors ... and their young daughter ... spent 3 seasons in Namibia ... dehorning rhino and researching the wildlife biology of this species. The book is a narrative of their time in Namibia. It reads like a novel, starting with their first tentative steps in the country and following their scientific and social interaction with the people of the country. Through their writing you can feel the heat and sweat, the exhilaration of the work and their reaction to feeling like unwanted invaders of privacy when meeting with remote tribes people. When their fourth session of work is stopped before it really starts because of politics, the reader gets and object lesson about the politics of conservation. This book is every bit as good as 'Out of Africa' but with a lot more good ecology in it. --Bulletin of the British Ecology SocietyReviews from the cloth edition Horn of Darkness, a fast-moving adventure about field studies in the Namib desert, is also an object lesson about the politics of conservation. When the Namibian government began to de-horn black rhinos in the early 1990s as a deterrent to poachers, Berger and Cunningham were welcomed as guest scientists to examine the biological consequences. Their gypsy-like quest for data contains humor, understanding, and the insight that the human dimension, rather than biology, poses the greatest challenges to wildlife conservation. --Chris Wemmer, SmithsonianInstitution Horn of Darkness accomplishes an important purpose. Though happily devoid of preachments or rhapsodic sighs about the wonders of nature, it conveys the importance of conservation, even as it dispels any illusions that the task is easy. One reads Horn of Darkness and wishes its authors and their brethren success for the sake of all of us, rhinoceroses included. --The New York T

In Namibia a radical solution [to stop the wholesale slaughter of rhinos] has been tried--removing the rhino's horns to remove the poacher's desire to kill. The two authors ... and their young daughter ... spent 3 seasons in Namibia ... dehorning rhino and researching the wildlife biology of this species. The book is a narrative of their time in Namibia. It reads like a novel, starting with their first tentative steps in the country and following their scientific and social interaction with the people of the country. Through their writing you can feel the heat and sweat, the exhilaration of the work and their reaction to feeling like unwanted invaders of privacy when meeting with remote tribes people. When their fourth session of work is stopped before it really starts because of politics, the reader gets and object lesson about the politics of conservation. This book is every bit as good as 'Out of Africa' but with a lot more good ecology in it. --Bulletin of the British Ecology Society<br> Reviews from the cloth edition: Horn of Darkness, a fast-moving adventure about field studies in the Namib desert, is also an object lesson about the politics of conservation. When the Namibian government began to de-horn black rhinos in the early 1990s as a deterrent to poachers, Berger and Cunningham were welcomed as guest scientists to examine the biological consequences. Their gypsy-like quest for data contains humor, understanding, and the insight that the human dimension, rather than biology, poses the greatest challenges to wildlife conservation. --Chris Wemmer, Smithsonian Institution<br> Horn of Darkness accomplishes an important purpose. Though happily devoid of preachments orrhapsodic sighs about the wonders of nature, it conveys the importance of conservation, even as it dispels any illusions that the task is easy. One reads Horn of Darkness and wishes its authors and their brethren success for the sake of all of us, rhinoceroses included. --The New York Times<br> These remarkable authors, Carol Cunningham and Joel Berger, show that the process of Science is subject to the distortions of political agendas, of whimsical authority. Yet their trials are described with sensitivity, emotion, humor and a deeply felt commitment to the future of humankind and their fellow species and environments. --A. R. E. Sinclair, Professor of Ecology and Director, Centre for Biodiversity Research<br> A compelling tale of how scientists work under physically and politically challenging conditions in an attempt to determine if radical management can help conserve one of the world's most critically endangered mammals in one of the world's wildest places. The reader is treated to a blend of science with a unique personal perspective into the family life of field biologists. --Steven R. Beissinger, Division of Ecosystem Sciences, Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley<br> More than a nature study or adventure story, Horn of Darkness is a melange of politics, economics, hope, despair, and intestinal fortitude. It's a great read, because it's real. --Dr. Andy Phillips, Deputy Director, Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species, Zoological Society of San Diego<br> Few would have had the courage to take their families into the harsh and lonely landscape of the Namib; even fewer would have returned with so much forscience, humanity and the wildlife they studied.... This book is a must read for anyone seeking insight into the lives of those who struggle to conserve endangered species and those who want to know more about the desperate plight of the black rhinoceros. --Mark Dykes, Administrative Director, Owens Foundation for Wildlife Conservation<br> In alternating chapters, the two authors plait their days afield into a delightful memoir: how they learned to track, to dodge rhino charges, to overcome all the logistical problems of cameras and auto mechanics and night-vision and life without a tossed salad. --Kirkus Reviews<br> It is, finally, the variety of subjects touched on that makes these researchers' lives vividly real to young adults. --School Library Journal<br>

In Namibia a radical solution [to stop the wholesale slaughter of rhinos] has been tried--removing the rhino's horns to remove the poacher's desire to kill. The two authors ... and their young daughter ... spent 3 seasons in Namibia ... dehorning rhino and researching the wildlife biology of this species. The book is a narrative of their time in Namibia. It reads like a novel, starting with their first tentative steps in the country and following their scientific and social interaction with the people of the country. Through their writing you can feel the heat and sweat, the exhilaration of the work and their reaction to feeling like unwanted invaders of privacy when meeting with remote tribes people. When their fourth session of work is stopped before it really starts because of politics, the reader gets and object lesson about the politics of conservation. This book is every bit as good as 'Out of Africa' but with a lot more good ecology in it. --Bulletin of the British Ecology Society Reviews from the cloth edition: Horn of Darkness, a fast-moving adventure about field studies in the Namib desert, is also an object lesson about the politics of conservation. When the Namibian government began to de-horn black rhinos in the early 1990s as a deterrent to poachers, Berger and Cunningham were welcomed as guest scientists to examine the biological consequences. Their gypsy-like quest for data contains humor, understanding, and the insight that the human dimension, rather than biology, poses the greatest challenges to wildlife conservation. --Chris Wemmer, Smithsonian Institution Horn of Darkness accomplishes an important purpose. Though happily devoid of preachments or rhapsodic sighs about the wonders of nature, it conveys the importance of conservation, even as it dispels any illusions that the task is easy. One reads Horn of Darkness and wishes its authors and their brethren success for the sake of all of us, rhinoceroses included. --The New York Times These remarkable authors, Carol Cunningham and Joel Berger, show that the process of Science is subject to the distortions of political agendas, of whimsical authority. Yet their trials are described with sensitivity, emotion, humor and a deeply felt commitment to the future of humankind and their fellow species and environments. --A. R. E. Sinclair, Professor of Ecology and Director, Centre for Biodiversity Research A compelling tale of how scientists work under physically and politically challenging conditions in an attempt to determine if radical management can help conserve one of the world's most critically endangered mammals in one of the world's wildest places. The reader is treated to a blend of science with a unique personal perspective into the family life of field biologists. --Steven R. Beissinger, Division of Ecosystem Sciences, Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley More than a nature study or adventure story, Horn of Darkness is a melange of politics, economics, hope, despair, and intestinal fortitude. It's a great read, because it's real. --Dr. Andy Phillips, Deputy Director, Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species, Zoological Society of San Diego Few would have had the courage to take their families into the harsh and lonely landscape of the Namib; even fewer would have returned with so much for science, humanity and the wildlife they studied.... This book is a must read for anyone seeking insight into the lives of those who struggle to conserve endangered species and those who want to know more about the desperate plight of the black rhinoceros. --Mark Dykes, Administrative Director, Owens Foundation for Wildlife Conservation In alternating chapters, the two authors plait their days afield into a delightful memoir: how they learned to track, to dodge rhino charges, to overcome all the logistical problems of cameras and auto mechanics and night-vision and life without a tossed salad. --Kirkus Reviews It is, finally, the variety of subjects touched on that makes these researchers' lives vividly real to young adults. --School Library Journal In Namibia a radical solution [to stop the wholesale slaughter of rhinos] has been tried--removing the rhino's horns to remove the poacher's desire to kill. The two authors ... and their young daughter ... spent 3 seasons in Namibia ... dehorning rhino and researching the wildlife biology of this species. The book is a narrative of their time in Namibia. It reads like a novel, starting with their first tentative steps in the country and following their scientific and social interaction with the people of the country. Through their writing you can feel the heat and sweat, the exhilaration of the work and their reaction to feeling like unwanted invaders of privacy when meeting with remote tribes people. When their fourth session of work is stopped before it really starts because of politics, the reader gets and object lesson about the politics of conservation. This book is every bit as good as 'Out of Africa' but with a lot more good ecology in it. --Bulletin of the British Ecology Society Reviews from the cloth edition: Horn of Darkness, a fast-moving adventure about field studies in the Namib desert, is also an object lesson about the politics of conservation. When the Namibian government began to de-horn black rhinos in the early 1990s as a deterrent to poachers, Berger and Cunningham were welcomed as guest scientists to examine the biological consequences. Their gypsy-like quest for data contains humor, understanding, and the insight that the human dimension, rather than biology, poses the greatest challenges to wildlife conservation. --Chris Wemmer, Smithsonian Institution Horn of Darkness accomplishes an important purpose. Though happily devoid of preachments or rhapsodic sighs about the wonders of nature, it conveys the importance of conservation, even as it dispels any illusions that the task is easy. One reads Horn of Darkness and wishes its authors and their brethren success for the sake of all of us, rhinoceroses included. --The New York Times These remarkable authors, Carol Cunningham and Joel Berger, show that the process of Science is subject to the distortions of political agendas, of whimsical authority. Yet their trials are described with sensitivity, emotion, humor and a deeply felt commitment to the future of humankind and their fellow species and environments. --A. R. E. Sinclair, Professor of Ecology and Director, Centre for Biodiversity Research A compelling tale of how scientists work under physically and politically challenging conditions in an attempt to determine if radical management can help conserve one of the world's most critically endangered mammals in one of the world's wildest places. The reader is treated to a blend of science with a unique personal perspective into the family life of field biologists. --Steven R. Beissinger, Division of Ecosystem Sciences, Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley More than a nature study or adventure story, Horn of Darkness is a melange of politics, economics, hope, despair, and intestinal fortitude. It's a great read, because it's real. --Dr. Andy Phillips, Deputy Director, Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species, Zoological Society of San Diego Few would have had the courage to take their families into the harsh and lonely landscape of the Namib; even fewer would have returned with so much for science, humanity and the wildlife they studied.... This book is a must read for anyone seeking insight into the lives of those who struggle to conserve endangered species and those who want to know more about the desperate plight of the black rhinoceros. --Mark Dykes, Administrative Director, Owens Foundation for Wildlife Conservation In alternating chapters, the two authors plait their days afield into a delightful memoir: how they learned to track, to dodge rhino charges, to overcome all the logistical problems of cameras and auto mechanics and night-vision and life without a tossed salad. --Kirkus Reviews It is, finally, the variety of subjects touched on that makes these researchers' lives vividly real to young adults. --School Library Journal

Author Information

Carol Cunningham and Joel Berger have worked as a team for fifteen years studying conservation and wildlife issues from Africa and Alaska to the Great Basin Desert. They both work at the University of Nevada, in Reno, and live up in the Sierras.

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