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This collection of papers on the flamingos was one of the earliest Poyser monographs. An international gathering of scientists from a variety of disciplines met at The Wildfowl Trust, Slimbridge, from 10-12 July 1973, to report on the world situation, in the wild and in captivity, of the six types of flamingos. The occasion was the International Flamingo Symposium, called to discuss problems encountered in flamingo conservation and research, and participants came from North and South America, Africa, the Middle East and Europe. Flamingos' thirty-nine chapters derive from papers delivered at the Symposium. They form four sections: Populations, Ecology and Conservation; Flamingos in captivity;...
Why do people go to zoos? Is the role of zoos to entertain or to educate? In this provocative book, the authors demonstrate that zoos tell us as much about humans as they do about animals and suggest that while animals may not need zoos, urban societies seem to. A new introduction takes note of dramatic changes in the perceived role of zoos that have occurred since the book's original publication. "Bob Mullan and Garry Marvin delve into the assumptions about animals that are embedded in our culture. . . . A thought-provoking glimpse of our own ideas about the exotic, the foreign." -- Tess Lemmon, BBC Wildlife Magazine "A thoughtful and entertaining guided tour." -- David White, New Society "[An] unusual and intriguing combination of historical survey, psychological enquiry, and compendium of fascinating facts." -- Evening Standard
On a rainy day in May 1988, a lowland gorilla named Willie B. stepped outdoors for the first time in twenty-seven years, into a new landscape immersion exhibit. Born in Africa, Willie B. had been captured by an animal collector and sold to a zoo. During the decades he spent in a cage, zoos stopped collecting animals from the wild and Americans changed the ways they wished to view animals in the zoo. Zoos developed new displays to simulate landscapes like the Amazon River basin and African forests. Exhibits similar to animals' natural habitats began to replace old-fashioned animal houses. But such displays are only the most recent effort of zoos to present their audiences with an authentic ex...
With their distinctive pink coloring and one-legged stance, flamingos are easily the most recognizable bird in the world. Most of us don't know, however, that there are actually six different species of flamingo, each differing in size and hue––and, despite excellent fossil records, scientists have had a difficult time positioning the flamingo within the avian genetic tree. In Flamingo, Caitlin R. Kight untangles the scientific knowledge about this unusual ornithological wonder and looks at how it has figured in popular culture. Kight presents the flamingo in a concise and accessible way, introducing its detailed scientific history alongside what we know about its often hostile habitats and complex social behavior. She explores its genetic lineage and the confusions it has caused, and she details the significance it has had for many cultures, whether as a spiritual totem or a commercial symbol of the tropical life. She even explains how it gets its extraordinary color (hint: it has to do with its diet). A wonderful resource for any bird lover, Flamingo provides valuable insight into just what makes this flashy-feathered character so special.
Abstracts and reviews of research and exploration authorized under grants from the National Geographic Society.
The new foreword by Devra Kleiman provides anecdotes about R. F. Ewer's personal and professional achievements from biologists who actually knew her. It also features a bibliography of Ewer's publications which demonstrates her extensive and wide-ranging life's work.
With their curious feeding behaviour, peculiar elongated body, gregarious social lives and exotic pink plumage, flamingos are among the most familiar and popular of all the world's birds. They have inspired artists, poets and amateur naturalists for centuries, but until 50 years ago very little was known about their biology. A growing number of scientists have directed their attention to these magnificent birds over recent years; this book summarises current understanding of flamingo biology, with detailed discussion of population dynamics, ecology, movements, feeding, breeding biology and conservation, with emphasis placed on the authors' work on the famous population of Greater Flamingos in the Camargue region of southern France. There is also a detailed guide to breeding areas, and an outline of future challenges for research.