Animaux Disparus Histoire et Archives Photographiques

About this book

Language: French

A photograph of an animal long-gone evokes a feeling of loss more than a painting ever can. Often tinted sepia or black-and-white, these images were mainly taken in zoos or wildlife parks, and in a handful of cases featured the last known individual of the species. There are some familiar examples, such as Martha, the last Passenger Pigeon, or the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, recently fledged and perching happily on the hat of one of the biologists that had just ringed it. But for every Martha there are a number of less familiar extinct birds and mammals that were caught on camera prior to their demise.

The photographic record of extinction is the focus of this remarkable book, written by the world's leading authority on vanished animals, Errol Fuller. Animaux Disparus features photographs dating from around 1870 to as recently as 2004, the year that saw the demise of the Hawaiian Po'ouli. From a mother Thylacine and her pups to now-extinct birds such as the Heath Hen and Carolina Parakeet, Fuller tells the tale of each animal, why it became extinct, and discusses the circumstances surrounding the photography itself, in a book rich with unique images.

The photographs themselves are poignant and compelling. They provide a tangible link to animals that have now vanished forever, in a book that brings the past to life while delivering a warning for the future.

Summary in French:
La photographie d’un animal disparu depuis longtemps évoque mieux le sentiment de perte que ne le ferait une peinture. Les photographies présentées ici s'échelonnent de 1870 à 2004, année de la disparition du poouli masqué. Elles représentent aussi bien une femelle thylacine et ses petits, que le tétras de bruyère ou la conure de Caroline.

Errol Fuller raconte l'histoire de ces espèces, de leur extinction et des dernières prises de vue. Poignantes et fascinantes, les photos constituent un lien tangible avec des animaux à jamais disparus dans un livre qui redonne vie au passé tout en livrant une mise en garde pour l'avenir.

Customer Reviews

Biography

Since 1987, when he published the first edition of his seminal Extinct Birds,"http://www.nhbs.com/title.php?bkfno=143646.html">The Great Auk (2000) and Dodo - From Extinction To Icon (2002).