Where the animals go by James Cheshire and Oliver Uberti. What happens when a geographer meets a graphic designer? Of course, they create a book about animal migrations. Well, maybe it is not that obvious to you on the first sight, as none of them is a biologist. However, have you ever thought about the skills that programmers, statisticians, data analysts or in this case a geographer and a graphic designer could contribute to a biological study? Well, in this book you will learn more about all this.
Title: Where The Animals Go: Tracking Wildlife with Technology in 50 Maps and Graphics
Authors: James Cheshire and Oliver Uberti
Imprint: Particular Books
Length: 174 pages
Published: 2018
Language: English
Blurb
"Turn the pages to revel in the techno-tracking that is revealing the secrets of animal lives. This is science at its best, the art of understanding truth and beauty" Chris Packham
Once tracking animals meant following footprints. Now satellites, drones, camera traps, cellphone networks, apps and accelerometers allow us to see the natural world as never before. For the first time, this book lets you follow the journeys of seals, sharks, elephants, bumble bees, owls and wolves all over the world. Open it, and go where the animals go.
"This is a special kind of detective story" New Scientist
"This book is beautiful as well as informative and inspiring. There is no doubt it will help in our fight to save wildlife and wild habitats" Dr Jane Goodall
"Beautiful and thrilling... a joy to study cover to cover" E. O. Wilson
Thoughts about the book
When I was strolling through one of our local libraries, I was not searching for this book. But the title "Where the animals go" immediately caught my attention. And I'm happy that I have found this book. As this book is in my opinion very smart, visual and at the same time informative, I want to highly recommend this impressive book in this blog entry to everyone interested in animals.
Before reading this book, I thought about all the animals I knew that they migrate. Common cranes and other birds like willow warblers. Humpback whales and Southern right whales. But also green sea turtles.
But why do animals migrate? Where do they go? And how do they move?
So many questions. But if you read the book "Where the animals go" you will find at least some answers for some animals. But always bear in mind. Although this is a fabulous book, there are still so many things we do not know.
Nevertheless, the book is easy to read. Furthermore, a great amount of data is visualized to inform the reader about some aspects of the hidden life of animals.
The book starts with the story of Annie - an elephant from the Zakouma National Park in Chad. She was actually the one who inspired the creators of "Where the animals go" to start with this book project.
The book can be divided into three main chapters. The first main chapter is dedicated to all animals that migrate on land. In this chapter you learn more about migrations of large animals like elephants or zebras, but also cats like jaguars and pumas. Not enough, even our closest relatives, apes and other non-human primates migrate. Not to forget ants - the smallest creatures mentioned in this chapter.
In the next main chapter you will hear more about all animals that migrate in the water. Be it whales, turtles, sharks or seals. In the second chapter you will be impressed by the number of different species that migrate in the sea or rivers.
The last main chapter is focused on all animal migrations in the air. This chapter is mainly about birds. However, you will also learn more about other migrating animals like flying foxes or bumblebees.
It’s a fascinating compilation of so many different animal stories.
I’m impressed about how James Cheshire and Oliver Uberti use their skills as a geographer and graphic designer to tell stories about the biology of animals. I’m impressed by how maps can not only tell a story, but also support studies or reveal facts. The book is very visual and each map is accompanied with a text. Due to the fact that more and more animals are under pressure and actions to their conservation are urgently needed, I’m so thrilled about how the two authors make so many animal stories visually attractive and easy to understand for scientists or non-scientists. The book with its collection of maps and graphics and their corresponding stories is an inspiration for everyone interested in wildlife. The two authors show sophisticatedly how technology and ecology can be connected. And by all means, they have moved forward their aim to share ideas and data in order to promote the conservation of especially threatened animals.
Conclusion
Fantastic book. I very enjoyed reading the different stories of animals on land, in the water or in the air. Very impressive and great visualization of data to tell animal stories. If you are into science topics and animals, I can highly recommend reading this book to find new inspiration.
Have you read "Where the animals go"? What was your favorite story? Or do you know another book about animal migrations? Let me know in the comments.
