The Last Big Cats: An Untamed Spirit [Hardcover]

Erwin A. Bauer (Author, Photographer), Peggy Bauer (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2003

Big cats are threatened as never before and are the subject of intense interest among nature fans and conservationists alike. This book, which highlights all of the major cat species, includes Erwin A Bauer's 'trademark' engaging personal tone and strong first-person narrative that presents the story of the big cats' natural history, as well as personal anecdotes from major researchers. The text has a strong focus on the status of the endangered or threatened big cats, current efforts to save them, and the hopes and chances for their survival. The accompanying photographs by Erwin and his wife Peggy are remarkable and comprehensive, showcasing five decades' worth of their best big cat photographs -- most of which have not been published in book form. Range maps and cat tracks round out the combination. From the lion, tiger, leopard, cheetah, and snow leopard of Africa and Asia to the cougar and jaguar of North and South America, this book provides complete coverage of these remarkable creatures.

Editorial Reviews

Review

". . . all the world’s big cats are beautifully presented . . . the reader simply can not wait to turn each page . . . ." -- Michigan Outdoor Times --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Erwin A. Bauer has been photographing wild cats since the 1950s and, with Peggy, is widely known as one of the most famous nature photographers in the world. The Bauer credit line has appeared in virtually every periodical that features nature photography. Their photographs have often been used in advertising programs, and the Bauers have written and produced 51 books on wildlife, natural history, and wilderness adventure-winning awards for a number of them. Most recently Erwin and Peggy Bauer were awarded the 2000 Lifetime Achievement Award, the top honor of the North American Nature Photographers' Association.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Voyageur Press (MN) (June 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 089658593X
• ISBN-13: 978-0896585935
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 9.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,135,138 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #53 in Books > Science & Math > Nature & Ecology > Field Guides > Mammals

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Each big cat receives a solo chapter of focus, May 6, 2004

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Last Big Cats: An Untamed Spirit (Hardcover)

Erwin Bauer's Last Big Cats features both big cat natural history and the stunning color photos of team Erwin and wife Peggy Bauer, widely known as fine nature photographers with a host of wildlife book publications to their name. Each big cat receives a solo chapter of focus, from leopards and tigers to snow leopards and lions, making for a gorgeous presentation suitable both for research, reports and coffee table exhibition alike.

13 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Coolness gets an upgrade!, January 3, 2006

By 

Alex K "Catman" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Last Big Cats: An Untamed Spirit (Hardcover)

This is the best damn book on the big cats(which, as I have said REPEATEDLY, are my favorite kinds of animals EVER IN THE WORLD)I have ever read in my entire f**king life! Where to start? It has nearly all the information on the eight species that is known & beautiful photographs of all of them, there are so many terrific chapters, each dedicated to one of these marvelous animals(the first chapter is an ode to lions, followed by the same thing for leopards, then cheetahs, then tigers, then snow leopards, then pumas and finally jaguars. In these are bonus animals like the clouded leopard, caracal, serval and hyena(all four of which are also cool, though not as much as the former mentioned)If you are an animal lover and want to find out on these fabulous felines about how they mate, what they eat, what they do to play, fight or practice skills, how many there are, where they live & any or all in between, then you should get this book. The only bad part was reading about poachers & their supporters(all of whom I want dead but can't make that way, of course. Bummer.)But other than that, this book is a masterpiece on the most beautiful and cool animals on the planet and I recommend it to all nature lovers & anyone over the age of 12. Oh, & here's how I rank the big cats. From the eighth best to the number one best, in all terms of good/worthiness.

# 8: The Clouded Leopard-Funny and cute, and somewhat cool

#7. The Cheetah-The spots are really stylish & I love that speed

# 6. The Snow Leopard-Mysterious & gorgeous. I like creepy stuff

# 5. The Puma/Cougar/Mountain Lion-It matters not what you call it! It's a cool/pretty 1 color cat & the best in North America

# 4. The Leopard-The original spotted cat! Lithe, agile, fast, strong & feisty-these words describe the terrific Panthera Pardus

# 3. The Jaguar-Very golden-both ways. It has the coolest bite of any cat, better spots than leopards or cheetahs, more beauty than any animal except lions & tigers. Best in South America. I like their moan-like roars, as well. It really increases my joy

# 2. The Tiger-These cool cats come in close 2nd place on top 3 scale, jaguars in close 3rd, duh. They're the biggest,strongest & most ruthless of the cats. The stripes add to their glorious beauty & they're quite fast/agile for a huge animal. Best in Asia

# 1. The Lion-This is my favorite modern animal of all time, and will be that way for all eternity. They have the cutest young, live in great prides, have beautiful gold(some brown)fur, they have the best roar, and nothing tops them. Best in Africa, of course

Anyway, I gotta get going now. But remember, I'm a big cat lover and if you are, buy this book, if not, buy it and become one!