In the Dust of Kilimanjaro (A Shearwater Book) [Hardcover]

David Western (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1997 | ISBN-10: 1559635339 | ISBN-13: 978-1559635332 | Edition: 1ST

This is the story of one man's struggle to protect Kenya's wildlife. Conservationist David Western - who grew up in Africa and whose life is intertwined with the lives of its animals and indigenous peoples - blends biographical details with a history of African wildlife conservation and a glimpse into his life as global spokesperson and one of Kenya's most prominent citizens. His approach to global conservation aims to balance the needs of people and wildlife and entails coexistence rather than segregation.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Western, the director of the Kenya Wildlife Service, describes his career in African wildlife conservation, beginning with his childhood in the bush of Tanganyika. His experiences with his hunter father formed the basis for his lifelong commitment to saving African wildlife. At the same time, he was one of the earliest conservationists to insist that preservation efforts must include native peoples, in this case the Maasai of Amboseli National Park, where Western conducted field research. The most engaging segments of this book trace his friendship and collaboration with the Maasai, who needed the parklands for grazing their cattle. He describes the years of political and scientific maneuvering needed to establish policies in the best interest of wildlife, native Africans, and tourists alike. Included are his views on the world ban on ivory, which are a bit surprising. Western writes very well?often lyrically?about wild Africa and displays a charming readiness to admit when he's been wrong. Recommended for conservation collections in public and academic libraries.?Beth Clewis Crim, Prince William P.L., Va.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 312 pages
• Publisher: Shearwater Books; 1ST edition (September 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1559635339
• ISBN-13: 978-1559635332
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,308,408 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Snows of Kilimanjaro,,, are melting, September 24, 2009

By 

Cactusmitch (Flagstaff, AZ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In the Dust of Kilimanjaro (A Shearwater Book) (Paperback)

In the Dust of Kilimanjaro (A Shearwater Book)

The Snows of Kilimanjaro are melting,
a review of David Western's book on ethnic relationships and conservation in east Africa,
by CactusMitch

David Western knows the Hemingways, both father and son.

They all hunt and perhaps haunt the same Africa. Father and son Hemingway crafted "True at First Light" over many years. Their work is on the tip top of my list of modern literature greats.

Mr Western's book is a worthy sequel, though his father was not a writer, only a hunter. Papa Hemingway, and his son Patrick, aka. Bwanna Mouse, grew up hunting the north slop of the tallest equatorial mountain in eastern Africa. All became convinced of the need for coexistence rather than segregation. Both seem blind to racial segregation. By "integration," they mean people of all strains living in an as yet to be found world where wilderness and wildlife thrives and the people's lives are the better for it.

Patrick now lives in Montana. East Africa would be a hard place in these troubled times. David is an adjunct professor at University of California, San Diego. David Western founded the Ecotourism Society, the foundation of which, promotes a sort of coffee table vanity. "Oh look where I visited!"

From my reading of "True at First Light," I think that Papa Hemingway's heart and soul were converted to pre-colonial beliefs. He recorded a snippet about his vision of Gitchie Manitou in Wyoming. He saw a new belief system in which all peoples could share.

For some, seeing the truth, even in the shimmering dawn, compels one to abandon everything old to inhabit such a new and wonderful place. Isn't there a parable about a farm hand who found a buried treasure and sold everything to buy the field?

Why did that leopard climb so high? (See the first words in "The Snows of Kilimanjaro.")