Thursday, May 25, 2023

Book Review - The Lion: Behavior, Ecology and Conservation of an Iconic Species - Princeton University Press


      The lion is universally known as the king of beasts with some justification, but it is not a benevolent king, and greed, aggression, and infanticide are just part of the makeup of this magnificent iconic species. What other animal commands awe, respect, admiration and fear at the same time? Its very qualities have been anthropomorphised in every way, from introducing movies to bestowing the heart of a lion on a human king. Perhaps only another big cat, the tiger, a solitary inhabitant of deep jungle and tropical wetland, can rival the combination of awe and dread in which it is held.
     In stark contrast to other felines lions are sociable animals living in groups (prides); in fact social living is a cornerstone of lion lifestyle, essential to survival. A solitary lion is sooner or later a dead lion, the victim of attack by other lions. Male lions are known for their proclivity to kill the young fathered by another male to bring the female back into estrus, but they will also opportunistically kill estranged lions, competitive feline predators and hyenas - and not for food. When natural prey is in short supply and human encroachment expands, they can become man-eaters too.
     Craig Packer has packed (no pun intended) an enormous amount of information into this book, drawing on forty years of research into the lions of the Serengeti Plain and the Ngorogoro Crater, highlighting the different lifestyles of the two populations, one dependent on migratory ungulates for survival, the other with a reliable, fairly stable, resident prey base.


     
Aided by an army of graduate students over the years there is not a single aspect of lion behaviour that has not been researched, often in exquisite detail. Packer has written a book whose narrative flows easily and freely, presenting fact after fact, and revealing a scientist's passion for the subject of his study, verging on obsession one might even conclude.


     But all is not well, and the future of the wild lion is at best bleak and at worst catastrophic. Packer says-
     "Across the entire continent, savanna habitat shrank by about 75 percent between 1960 and 2010 and by 2015 lions had likely vanished from as many as sixteen African countries. Add the impacts of infectious disease, human-lion conflict, poorly managed sport hunting, and illegal bushmeat consumption, as well as an emerging demand for lion parts in traditional Chinese medicine, and there seems little hope for the African lion."
     Most lions today are restricted by fences designed to keep people and lions apart, but far from being an ideal solution, confining lions behind physical barriers creates its own set of problems.



     Human population growth in Africa is already at the highest rate in the world, and the number of humans is forecast to triple between 2020 and 2100, a disaster in the making for human and lion alike.
     Lions breed well in captivity, but it is a sad prospect to contemplate the King of Beasts restricted to the status of a domestic breeding stock, with fewer and fewer opportunities to reintroduce them to the wild.
     For anyone concerned with the fate of the lion, indeed with the future of African wildlife in all its richness and diversity, this is an important book. It contains moments of great joy, yet one cannot help experiencing a sense of despair for what is to come.
     The future looks grim.

The Lion: Behaviour, Ecology and Conservation of an Iconic Species - Princeton University Press
Craig Packer
Hardcover - US$39.95 - ISBN: 9780691215297
376 pages - 7 x 10 inches (17.5 x 25 cm) - 173 colour illustrations, 5 tables
Publication Date: 28 March, 2023  


  

David M. Gascoigne,
David M. Gascoigne,

I'm a life long birder. My interests are birds, nature, reading, books, outdoors, travel, food and wine.

47 comments:

  1. Yes, the future looks grim, David. I guess there will be few animals in the future. Maybe some alligators, crocodiles and some big snakes. I fear the the mammals will die first. It will be a big loss for the world.
    Hugs and kisses, Marit

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  2. The disappearance of lions is not a positive event...

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  3. ...people and wildlife rarely mix well.

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  4. Hari OM
    Habitat loss is the basis of so many critters reaching a critical point in their existence; a timely and worthwhile book, of this I have no doubt. YAM xx

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  5. Esos animales salvajes, me merecen un respeto y un distanciamiento a ellos, por el temor de ser atacada.

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  6. they are among the most beautiful of all cats, and it hurts my heart to know they are slowly being contained. Humans have always wanted to keep wild thing contained, from fish to cats and bears and all God's living creatures. The future does look grim and not just for lions, but for every living creature including us on this planet.

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  7. Huge sigh. Yet another species disappearing as we watch. And disappearing because of our actions/inactions.
    I despair.

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  8. The future looks beak it seems for all wild life. Many as you say are now behind fences, it is a very sad state of affairs. Having said that even behind fences they are not safe, the poachers and hunters will have their way. This is a book I would like to read although my favourite big cat is the Leopard. Bisous Diane

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    1. One may have a favourite yet still be entranced by others, Diane.

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  9. It's sad what we do in our relationship with wildlife. We don't give it the respect it deserves.

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    1. If one country can't respect the territory of another, it's not hard to see that respect for other animals would take a back seat.

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  10. I would find this book fascinating.

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  11. As a child I loved to watch the monthly nature shows by Dr. Bernhard Grzimek "Ein Platz für Tiere" (a place for animals) and it seems that already back then (1960's) the future looked grim from what he told in his documentary "Serengeti darf nicht sterben" (Serengeti Shall Not Die). It is very discouraging to see that all the attempts for conservation haven't eased the outlook, but it is looking far worse.

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  12. This sounds like an interesting book. Another interesting book about lions is an oldie called Tribe of the Tiger by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas. I know, it's not a bird book-smile. hugs-Erika

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    1. If ever you visit this area, Erika, I will show you my library which is extensive for every category in the natural world - birds, mammals, insects, reptiles, amphibians, trees, wildflowers etc......but birds are No. 1 though!

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  13. Sounds an excellent book, do like lions and can't imagine this world without them.

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  14. A pessimistic post by David. What you say about lions can be said about many wild animals, bears, lynxes, zebras, etc. I saw a lion only in the zoo and in the circus and I always felt sorry for these animals. Of course, their habits are strange from a human point of view, but such is the way they survive.

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  15. It seems like an interesting book to me.
    Man is a disaster for the animals.
    Greetings Irma

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  16. What a shame to find lions have joined the long list of species suffering from human activity. Lions are such majestic proud animals - but they do smell a lot!!

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    1. How did you get so close to lions to know that they smell a lot?

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  17. It's heartbreaking to know yet another species is vanishing.
    Great review, David.

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  18. Hello David,
    It is sad hearing that the future of the lions is looking so bleak. Thanks for sharing the book and your review. Have a great weekend!

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  19. Otro libro interesante. Besos.

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  20. It is so frightening when an animal habitat can shrink by 75 percent within 50 years and at the same time the number of people, as in Africa, can triple within about 80 years.
    Thank you very much for your book presentation, dear David. I would like to read it.
    Please check my blog again, I answered you there... and I've now cut up rhubarb to make sauce too, what a wonderful tip you gave. I would be very interested if Miriam added spices to the rhubarb, I add freshly squeezed orange and lemon and some salt.
    Thanks. Best regards to you and Miriam from Viola

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    1. It is frightening indeed, Viola. Send me an email and I will send you our recipe for the rhubarb sauce.

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    2. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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    3. ...oh that's right, it won't be published...
      Thank you very much, dear David, I'm looking forward to the recipe. I enjoy cooking very much. Imagine we eat the same thing :-)))
      Greetings to Miriam

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  21. Ah, now you're talking my Spirit Animal -- this Leo woman's favorite of the wild ones. The concern about breeding in captivity -- even a very expansive captivity -- is a tough one. And yes, very sad. This looks like a fabulous book, David. Thanks for introducing me to it.

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  22. Sadly, the future looks grim in many areas...The world is not a welcome place for many species these days...even us!!! Sorry to see this magnificent beast fading into obscurity along with so many others..
    Have a wonderful Memorial day..

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  23. The future will be sad when speicies disappear and people only know them from photos. I hope I won't be aound then. Hugs, Valerie xxxxx

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  24. The future looks grim for all, David. The overpopulation of this planet along with rampant capitalism is tilting us more and more to extinction. It's so very sad and so, so preventable but I believe it's too late to reverse the course we are on.
    XO
    WWW

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  25. This looks like a fabulous book, David. Thanks for you excellent review! I was just reading an article in National Geographic about African and Asian elephants. Their outlook is similar. I am losing hope. And our Supreme Court is undercutting EPA laws that have protected our wetlands and water for decades. I feel helpless and hopeless at times.

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    1. And it doesn't bear contemplating what will happen if Trump get re- elected - or any of the other Republican candidates for that matter.

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  26. What an interesting review of what sounds like a very important book.

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  27. It's sad to know that many species disappear. I remember the quarrels I had with a friend when I learned that he was going around the world with a hunting club to kill animals. I don't succeed in understandig how killing could be funny!

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  28. Hi David - an impressive book showing us what's happening to wild life, particularly (in this case) the lion. I was hooked on Delia Owens' book Cry of the Kalahari (1984) which I read after my first visit to Botswana ... thanks for this and the reminders of those years - cheers Hilary

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  29. Hello David,
    Great review and book. I am thankful for the researchers passing on all the information they learn. These animals should be protected, not disappearing. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a great weekend. PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.

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    1. I am not sure what you mean by "protected", Eileen.

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  30. David, Thank you for your review of The Lion. Someday I hope you will show us a photo of your library … it must be wonderful. I recall your mention of having several volumes (maybe the entire set of 16) of Handbook of Birds of the World. I appreciate the kind of books that draw your attention and your insightful reviews. After reading your review of The Lion, I sat here for a while reflecting on where we are in the evolution of everything. The vast majority of humans have not yet awakened to the impact ALL OF US are having on our home, Earth. Slowly, I believe most humans are beginning to recognize the dangers our behavior is having on climate. But sadly, we haven’t started to focus on stopping the growth of humanity as a whole. The bottom line is, our planet simply cannot sustain 8 billion humans who haven’t learned how to get along and live in a sustainable way of life. And that’s just with our current world population. Your words ring true, “Human population growth in Africa is already at the highest rate in the world, and the number of humans is forecast to triple between 2020 and 2100, a disaster in the making for human and lion alike.” John

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    1. PS I just happened to see an article on Outside Online that I’ll bet you would be interested in reading. The title is “What It Takes to See 10,000 Bird Species” by Ornithologist Jessie Williamson.

      https://www.outsideonline.com/culture/essays-culture/peter-kaestner-birder/

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    2. Hi John: Thanks for your detailed, well-considered comment. I will make a point to take some pictures of my library over the next little while and post them on my blog. If my books are of interest to you they may have similar appeal for others. All the best - David

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  31. It is important that we preserve nature and all animals. I cannot conceive of a world without lions. It is certainly a fabulous book.
    Thanks for the tip.

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  32. Ulubione zwierzę mojego męża potraktowane naukowo! Ciekawostka!
    Piękne zdjęcie macie w czołówce bloga! Pozdrawiam z Polski!

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