Appointments at the Ends of the World: Memoirs of a Wildlife Veterinarian [Paperback]

William B. Karesh (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2000

William B. Karesh is a globetrotting vet who makes house calls in exotic places. The founding director of the Wildlife Conservation Society's Field Veterinary Program, Karesh shares some of his fascinating, and dangerous, encounters in the wild.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Ever since his childhood days of rescuing, raising, and releasing orphaned blue jays and raccoons, William B. Karesh knew that working with wild animals was his calling. After training as a veterinarian and working for years with zoo animals, he developed the International Field Veterinary Program (IFVP) for the Wildlife Conservation Society, providing advice and assistance to conservation programs worldwide. His adventures battling bureaucrats, poachers, and other short-sighted humans while endangered animals lay sick and dying are recounted in Appointment at the Ends of the World. The book is an exciting, inspiring read that appeals to animal lovers, environmentalists, and devotees of amazing stories alike.

From Borneo to Zaire, Karesh has shuttled through much of the world to bring much-needed medicines and surgical techniques to populations of animals that can't afford to lose even one to disease or injury. Plenty of illustrations and color plates bring the rhinos, peccaries, and macaws helped by the good doctor vividly to life, and the maps and sidebars help the reader achieve a sense of place missing from so many world-spanning books. Appointment at the Ends of the World is as certain to enrage as it is to delight; more than this, though, it kindles the desire to reach out and help those in need. --Rob Lightner --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Employed by the Wildlife Conservation Society, formerly known as the New York Zoological Society, Karesh travels around the world assisting foreign governments and conservation organizations with wildlife issues. His days and nights for weeks and months on end are filled with glamour and danger. As he succinctly states at the beginning, "My patients are only one occupational hazard: venomous snakes, deadly tropical diseases like Ebola, and unpredictable humans (including heavily armed soldiers and guerrilla rebels) pose equal threats." Whether he is working in Zaire, Borneo, Bolivia, Cameroon, or Peru, dealing with wealthy, high-profile personalities or the world's poorest people, Karesh is a passionate conservationist, committed and dedicated. He deeply believes that every individual can make a difference if he or she chooses. Essential summer reading.AEdell Marie Schaefer, Brookfield P.L., WI
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; Reprint edition (May 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446675997
• ISBN-13: 978-0446675994
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #490,470 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars By far, my favorite book!, February 25, 2000

By 

Luis R. Padilla "dr_zoo" (Edmond, OK) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Appointment at the Ends of the World: Memoirs of a Wildlife Veterinarian (Hardcover)

As an aspiring wildlife veterinarian myself, this book was a truly inspirational work. Karesh's sense of humor comes through at its best, keeping the tone extremely interesting and constantly flowing. Unlike similar books, Karesh does not bog us down with the "gloom and doom" encountered in his accounts, but he makes a point of it being there. His detailed accounts are very educational and entertaining, although at times technical. However, he sometimes leaves large gaps in the story line... perhaps done on purpose as a way to show the system and conditions under which he has worked and what he has done for the animals.

Some friends have actually been disappointed with this book, thinking that it would be much like James Herriot's cute and romantic veterinary stories. While Karesh's line of work is romantic, his prose is not, and his accounts are quite graphic- such as the okapi with its head infested with maggots that looked like cigarette butts. While this book lacks in furry, cutesy cuddliness, it is superbly complimented with humor, smart sarcasm and extreme respect towards wildlife conservation efforts.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An engaging memoir by a committed conservationist., July 21, 1999

By 

Susan K. Hughes "wordwright" (San Antonio, TX USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Appointment at the Ends of the World: Memoirs of a Wildlife Veterinarian (Hardcover)

"Appointment..." is a very pleasurable read. The writing is straightforward, not splashy, and entirely engaging. Karesh has provided a look at his unique role in the conservation community and placed it within the context of larger goals. He offers clear understanding of the vast pressures on the environments of threatened and endangered species all around the southern hemisphere, an understanding look at the people who live there, and a glimpse at the dedicated biologists who have made work with wildlife their lives' focus. Karesh includes very interesting "sidebars" to provide a little more information about some of his topics. These are very nice additions to the text. The many photos (black & white interspersed throughout the text with nice line drawings and a color section in the center) enrich the experience. The photos are not "professional" and their immediacy and sometimes casual quality increase the connection between the reader and the experience, I believe.

Karesh comes across as unassuming, kind, and extraordinarily competent, and with a generous sense of humor. He does not take his work lightly, though. Travelling continually, his skills and experience as a veterinarian are helping provide data critical to the understanding of the health and management needs of indigenous populations of animals and their ecosystems. At the same time he is helping to establish a level of competence in the local scientific communities to sustain the research and to support successful conservation strategies. Karesh does not paint a pretty picture of the status of wildlife, but he does offer an optimistic forecast if each of us accepts the challenge to make a difference. I highly recommend "Appointment..." to those who enjoy stories of wildlife "up-close," who are interested in wildlife research trends and challenges, who enjoy outdoor adventure with a practical bent, who wanted as kids to be veterinarians (and really still do), who welcome subtle inspiration, and who want to get to know someone who seems like a really nice guy.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fabulous book for anyone interested in animals, October 28, 1999

By 

Shannon M. Bass (Charlotte, North Carolina) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Appointment at the Ends of the World: Memoirs of a Wildlife Veterinarian (Hardcover)

This book gives a wonderful picture of the plight of wild animals and the wildlife veterinarian. As a small animal vet in the US, I was fascinated by the accounts of animal care. As a travel enthusiast it was a great travel dialogue. As an animal lover, the conservation aspect of the book was informative. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves animals.