Game Changer

Are conservation and protecting animals the same thing? This book by an award-winning environmental reporter reveals they are not. Animal rights activism is surging in popularity, but the results are mixed, particularly when it comes to saving populations of wild animals (rather than individuals) and the habitat that sustains them. Indeed, the championing of animal rights can paradoxically lead to the elimination of key charismatic wild species -- including elephants and lions. In an anecdotal and highly engaging style, Glen Martin takes the reader to the heart of the conflict -- Africa, where the worlds last great populations of wildlife are the hostages in a fight between those who love animals and those who would save them. The narrative reads like a safari travelogue as Martin travels to various reserves and meets with key players in the debate in order to understand the paradox of how protecting animals can lead to their disappearance. Much of the conflict is playing out in Kenya, where a 1977 game hunting ban has led to precipitous wildlife declines, but Martins narrative discusses conservation approaches in Tanzania and Namibia, too.