Endangered: Wildlife on the Brink of Extinction

About this book

There have been at least five great extinctions in the history of the Earth where up to 95 per cent of all species have been wiped out in one event. The causes are attributed to massive volcanic eruptions, disastrous meteor strikes, and rapid climatic change. "Endangered" describes these events, but its main thesis is reserved for the potential sixth great extinction, attributable to mankind. Beautifully illustrated, "Endangered" looks at those species which have become extinct or which are so severely threatened that they soon will if we do not apply more international rational restraint upon the way we exploit our environment. However, this is more than a scare-mongering book designed to exploit guilt and anxiety, it is a celebration of the variety of nature and hopeful guide to a future world, safe for all species. Unimpeachable authorship, extraordinary photography and compelling yet objective text make this book essential to any Natural History reading list in the twenty-first century.

Contents

Foreword Author's Introduction The Nature of Extinction The Sixth Event The Lost & The Last Stemming the Tide Index

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Biography

George McGavin is an Assistant Curator of Entomological Collections and lecturer in Biological and Human Sciences at Oxford University. His interests include true bugs, pest control and conservation of natural history collections. David Burnie was a nature Reserve Ranger before becoming a natural history author and editor. A prolific writer of many books, including several on dinosaurs, he has seen many of his titles win educational awards and science prizes.