The Biology and Conservation of Wild Canids [Paperback]

David W. Macdonald (Editor), Claudio Sillero-Zubiri (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0198515561 | ISBN-13: 978-0198515562 | Publication Date: August 26, 2004

Wild canids are fascinating ancestors of the domestic dog. This definitive book on aspects of canid biology and the conservation of wolves, dogs, jackals and foxes covers topics relevant to modern conservation science, and features detailed case studies of many canid species across the globe. A must-have for all scientists studying carnivores, predators, cooperative breeding, and social systems. A useful text for both undergraduate and graduate courses in behavioural ecology and conservation biology, and engaging reading for a wide range of wolf and domestic dog enthusiasts.

Editorial Reviews

Review

As would be expected from such a renowned academic stable, this book represents another first class, definitive publication in their ever-growing list of 'must have' publications. It is exceptionally well researched and well presented throughout, although it is certainly not a coffee table book, and is edited by two of Euorpe's leading canid workers. The London Naturalist, No.84, 2005 --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

About the Author

David W. Macdonald is the Director of Oxford University's Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU); and Senior Research Fellow at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. He is also A.D. White Professor at Cornell University, New York, USA. He is on the Council of English Nature, is Vice President (and Council member) of Zoological Society of London, is Vice President of the Wildlife Trusts and of the RSPCA. Originally his thesis was on a wild canid, the red fox, and that work won the ZSL's Huxley Medal. He is also the Chair of the IUCN Canid Specialist Group. Claudio Sillero-Zubiri is one of WildCRU's longest-serving conservation biologists. He is also the Deputy Chair of the IUCN Canid Specialist Group and received the Royal Geographical Society's Whitley Award for his work protecting the endangered Ethiopian Wolf.

Product Details

• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (August 26, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0198515561
• ISBN-13: 978-0198515562
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,970,770 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not for the general reader but for the hard-core canid lover, February 20, 2006

By 

Arthur Digbee (Indianapolis, IN, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Biology and Conservation of Wild Canids (Paperback)

The book has three parts. The first part consists of several overview chapters on canid society, infectious diseases, and similar general topics. The final section is a single chapter on conservation, which provides a very strong summary though it fails to break new ground. The middle part, and the bulk of the book, is a series of case studies of canids, both well-known and unfamiliar.

Some of these case studies (i.e., those on red and gray wolves, or island foxes) focus intensively on management issues. Other case studies seek basic information about poorly-known species (i.e., bat-eared foxes), or seek to make some purely-biological point (i.e., that Finnish racoon dogs are becoming a separate species from Japanese racoon dogs). A few other chapters straddle the biological and management perspectives, extending moderate bodies of scientific knowledge and discussing management problems briefly (i.e., Ethiopian wolves).

Like the focus, the quality of these chapters varies widely. It seems that the editors never really got control of their contributors and were unable to force a conservation or management perspective on everyone. This is especially ironic since one of the co-editors was a co-author of one of the chapters that fits least well.

As a result, the book will be of limited interest to the general reader (and I cannot say how interesting it is to the specialist). The chapters on wolves are interesting but the material in them is available elsewhere because these species are so well known.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Resource, January 3, 2006

By 

Erin E. Albers "wildlife biologist/naturalist" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Biology and Conservation of Wild Canids (Paperback)

If you want to learn about canids all over the world this is the book for you. Not only is it a credible resource, it has up to date information about conservation issues and research currently being conducted. Overall, a great scientific resource that cuts to the chase and gives you the facts.