What are you currently reading?

The Hen Harrier's Year by Ian Carter which is an account of the year in the life of a hen harrier from skydancing, raising a brood, and enduring winter it is currently providing a very good read. It also has marvellous illustrations by Dan Powell.
 
I have started to read The Zoo Keeper, it was in a series of books called People's Jobs (first edition 1960) and written by Donald Risden,who at that time was curator of Dudley zoo. During 1970 I was in my last year of secondary school and this book was in the careers library ,I couldn't stop reading it, my mind was made up, a career working with animals was for me. I looked for years for this book, with no luck, fortunately my brother found a copy (in excellent condition)which was my Christmas present, I could have kissed him
 
The Man-Eaters of Tsavo by John Henry Patterson
National Geographic's Complete National Parks of the United States
Facts On File's Encyclopedia of World History
The Art of War by Sun Tzu
The Divine Reality by Hamza Andreas Tzortzis
Key Topics in Conservation Biology by David W. MacDonald
 
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WhistlingKite24 said:
I just finished On Safari: The Story of my Life (1963) by Armand Denis which is certainly a book of that era - a few uncomfortable moments but that was to be expected. Many lively stories and adventures as well (the chapter about capturing wild okapis in particular!).

I am just starting on Zoos (1967) by Emily Hahn which involves her visiting zoos and meeting with directors/zoo people throughout Europe, the United States, Japan and even at Taronga. Seems like an excellent book so far with vivid accounts of her travels. Lots of fabulous photographs as well.
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Oh wow, I forgot all about Armand and Michaela Denis. What a pair. Here's a Youtube on safari. They made me cringe even as a kid reading "Ride a rhino".
 
Corbett477 said:
The Man-Eaters of Tsavo by John Henry Patterson
National Geographic's Complete National Parks of the United States
Facts On File's Encyclopedia of World History
The Art of War by Sun Tzu
The Divine Reality by Hamza Andreas Tzortzis
Key Topics in Conservation Biology by David W. MacDonald
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If you've read Maneaters of Tsavo" (I did under the bed clothes with a flashlight) have you also read Jim Corbett's adventures killing maneaters in northern India? "Maneaters of Kumaon" was one of his books. "And there was the maneater, six inches from my face but before he could swipe me I blasted him in the left toenail and he dropped dead, to the joy of the natives". Terrible imperialist stuff but one of the best places to still see birds in northern India is Corbett National Park. So Old Tom Corbett had a positive legacy too.
 

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I recently read The Stationary Ark by Gerald Durrell and am now reading Second Nature: Environmental Enrichment for Captive Animals by David J. Shepherdson, Jill D. Mellen, Michael Hutchins et.al, with a foreword by the late, great Dr. Terry Maple.
 
Torgos said:
Oh wow, I forgot all about Armand and Michaela Denis. What a pair. Here's a Youtube on safari. They made me cringe even as a kid reading "Ride a rhino".
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I remember reading "On Safari" (Armand Denis), "Ride a Rhino" (Michaela Denis) and "Leopard in My Lap" (Michaela Denis) back in the 1960s.

The cover picture of the book "Ride a Rhino" features the author, Michaela, riding the male Indian rhinoceros "Mohan" at Whipsnade.
 
Torgos said:
If you've read Maneaters of Tsavo" (I did under the bed clothes with a flashlight) have you also read Jim Corbett's adventures killing maneaters in northern India? "Maneaters of Kumaon" was one of his books. "And there was the maneater, six inches from my face but before he could swipe me I blasted him in the left toenail and he dropped dead, to the joy of the natives". Terrible imperialist stuff but one of the best places to still see birds in northern India is Corbett National Park. So Old Tom Corbett had a positive legacy too.
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Yes, I actually did read Man-eaters of Kumaon ( thoroughly enjoyed it.), and funnily enough in my dark room with a flashlight and a blanket over me. Not all that different from how you read Man-eaters of Tsavo. I guess it just somehow doesn't feel right to read these books in any other setting :D. It's been quite some time though, so my memory of it is quite fuzzy. However, after nearly finishing The Maneaters of Tsavo, I think I enjoyed Corbett's work more than Patterson's. I feel that the imperialistic undertones are far more present in Patterson's story than it is in Corbett's, and Corbett seems to be more of a nature enthusiast than Patterson. Heck, as you've pointed out there is even a national park named after him.
 
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Corbett477 said:
Yes, I actually did read Man-eaters of Kumaon ( thoroughly enjoyed it.), and funnily enough in my dark room with a flashlight and a blanket over me. Not all that different from how you read Man-eaters of Tsavo. I guess it just somehow doesn't feel right to read these books in any other setting :D. It's been quite some time though, so my memory of it is quite fuzzy. However, after nearly finishing The Maneaters of Tsavo, I think I enjoyed Corbett's work more than Patterson's. I feel that the imperialistic undertones are far more present in Patterson's story than it is in Corbett's, and Corbett seems to be more of a nature enthusiast than Patterson. Heck, as you've pointed out there is even a national park named after him.
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The film The Ghost and the Darkness is based on the Tsavo maneaters,with Michael Douglas and Val Kilmer
 
I'm currently "reading"

"Menagerie des Kaisers- Zoo der Wiener
250 Jahre Tiergarten Schonbrunn" (2002).

My German is not good but, fortunately, this is a beautifully illustrated volume that's worth looking at for the lovely pictures.
 
I have two books on the go at the moment, one being a zoo related book and one non-related zoo book. The zoo related book is, "My Wild Life" by Bob Lawrence, who was the head-keeper (Can anybody confirm if/when he left the position - I have it in my head somewhere that he is no longer head keeper) at West Midlands Safari Park. Since the TV series, "Safari Park" was released back in the early-mid 00's, I really enjoyed that period of history at West Midlands, with specific reference to them holding the big five, albeit times have changed, but, it was nice to watch the show on YouTube the other day which among other zoo/wildlife shows was a part of my childhood.

My non-related zoo book is "Fire and Blood" by George R.R. Martin, which the current HBO series, "House of the Dragon" is based upon. Since the end of "Game of Thrones" I had a fascination with the Targaryen family, the kings and queens which played a key part of the history of Westeros. Reading about Maegor the Crule, the reign of Aegon the Conqueror and his two sisters was so fascinating to me. I am currently on the Dance of the Dragons portion of the book, which will surely play a crucial role in the second series of the show.
 
Baringogiraffe12 said:
I have two books on the go at the moment, one being a zoo related book and one non-related zoo book. The zoo related book is, "My Wild Life" by Bob Lawrence, who was the head-keeper (Can anybody confirm if/when he left the position - I have it in my head somewhere that he is no longer head keeper) at West Midlands Safari Park. Since the TV series, "Safari Park" was released back in the early-mid 00's, I really enjoyed that period of history at West Midlands, with specific reference to them holding the big five, albeit times have changed, but, it was nice to watch the show on YouTube the other day which among other zoo/wildlife shows was a part of my childhood.

My non-related zoo book is "Fire and Blood" by George R.R. Martin, which the current HBO series, "House of the Dragon" is based upon. Since the end of "Game of Thrones" I had a fascination with the Targaryen family, the kings and queens which played a key part of the history of Westeros. Reading about Maegor the Crule, the reign of Aegon the Conqueror and his two sisters was so fascinating to me. I am currently on the Dance of the Dragons portion of the book, which will surely play a crucial role in the second series of the show.
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Bob Lawrence retired in 2016,he was 66
 
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