The Last Panda
The Last Panda by George B. Schaller, published by University of Chicago Press on April 15, 1993, is a detailed exploration of the challenges faced by the giant panda, a species on the brink of extinction. This edition spans 291 pages and is presented in English. Schaller draws on his extensive experience from four and a half years spent in the panda reserves of Wolong and Tangjiahe to document the dire situation of these animals, highlighting their dependence on bamboo and the threats posed by hunting and captivity.
Readers will find a blend of natural history and conservation issues as Schaller delves into the lives of giant pandas, their habitats, and the urgent need for human compassion to protect them. The book addresses topics such as environmental conservation, endangered species, and wildlife, providing insights into the complexities surrounding the preservation of these beloved mammals. Through his evocative narrative, Schaller aims to raise awareness about the plight of the panda and the broader implications for wildlife conservation.
Official synopsis Publisher
Dependent on a shrinking supply of bamboo, hunted mercilessly for its pelt, and hostage to profiteering schemes once in captivity, the panda is on the brink of extinction. Here, acclaimed naturalist George Schaller uses his great evocative powers, and the insight gained by four and a half years in the forests of the Wolong and Tangjiahe panda reserves, to document the plight of these mysterious creatures and to awaken the human compassion urgently needed to save them.
“No scientist is better at letting the rest of us in on just how the natural world works; no poet sees the world with greater clarity or writes about it with more grace. . . . Anyone who genuinely cares for wildlife cannot help being grateful to Schaller—both for his efforts to understand the panda and for the candor with which he reports what has gone so badly wrong in the struggle to save it from extinction.”—Geoffrey C. Ward, New York Times Book Review
“Schaller’s book is a unique mix of natural history and the politics of conservation, and it makes for compelling reading. . . . Having been in giant panda country myself, I found some of the descriptions of the animals and habitats breathtaking. Schaller describes the daily routines and personalities of the giant pandas he studied (as well as their fates thereafter) as though they were his blood relatives. . . . Schaller’s brilliant presentation of the complexities of conservation makes his book a milestone for the conservation movement.”—Devra G. Kleiman, Washington Post Book World
“George Schaller’s most soulful work, written in journal style with many asides about a creature who evolved only two to three million years ago (about the same time as humans). . . . Here, conservation biology confronts an evil that grinds against hope and shatters the planet’s diversity. Written with hope.”—Whole Earth Catalog
“A nicely crafted blend of wildlife observation and political-cultural analysis. . . . The Last Panda is a sad chronicle of our failure, so far, to stem the decline of the animal that may be the most beloved on the planet.”—Donald Dale Jackson, Smithsonian
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