India is rich in its natural resources and is home to a large number of species of animals and birds. There are totally seventeen mega diverse countries in the world - home to around 60 – 70% of the world’s biodiversity. India is fortunate to be one of them. We should be proud of our natural heritage.
Hence, this book, perhaps, the first of its kind for children, is a must read for kids. For, to know is to appreciate, to appreciate is to protect, and to protect is to sustain.
This lovely hard-bound book showcases ten of the near-threatened to critically-endangered species of wildlife in India. Who are they? What are the threats they face? What can be done to save them from extinction? The answers to these questions can be found in the case of each and every one of the ten species listed in it.
The endangered species listed here are; the Leatherback Turtle, the Gharial, the Red Panda, the Fishing Cat, the Dhole, the Pygmy Hog, the Snow Leopard, the Nilgiri Thar and the Malabar Civet.
As the child reads ze will understand that loss of habitat, depletion of prey, hunting, poaching and mindless pollution of the water and land are some of the primary reasons.
For example, we learn that the Leatherback Turtle is a huge animal that can weighs almost 900 kilograms and are between 1 – 2 metres long. And the biggest danger they face? Plastic bags! They mistake them for jelly-fish which is their natural diet. The others are, humans who destroy their nesting grounds, eat their eggs (they are considered a delicacy) and kill them for their shell.
The information provided is simple, easy to understand and just about adequate to whet the appetite of the child and create a desire to know more about them and hopefully, do something to save them from extinction.
An excellent book, well-researched with life-like illustrations that must have posed quite a challenge to the artist.
The only drawback is that the background colour of the pages are a tad too dark and make reading it somewhat of a challenge.
A must have in every school.