Lions in the balance : man-eaters, manes, and men with guns /

This book is not a natural history of lions. In ten chapters that are mostly chronologically arranged, Packer (biological sciences, Univ. of Minnesota, where he is director of the Lion Research Center) guides the reader through his work and that of his graduate students in studying lions, mostly in Tanzania. The author devotes much of the text to detailing his interactions and troubles with the various arms of the Tanzanian government and the hunting companies that own the "blocks" in which lion hunting can take place. Although in his early work in Tanzania Packer dealt exclusively with lions, he began to realize that the indigenous tribes of Tanzania need to be part of the solution; accordingly, many of his later projects involve ways to limit the problems between the tribes, their animals, and the lions. He also began to focus on the aging of lions and sustainability of the populations. The book is illustrated with occasional black-and-white photos but includes neither index nor bibliography (the reader can easily find the resources mentioned in the text). This is a book for those interested in the politics of lion hunting. This volume continues the personal-narrative approach to lion studies begun by George Schallers in Golden Shadows, Flying Hooves (CH, Apr'74). Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students, researchers, professionals. --Larry Thomas Spencer, Plymouth State University

Packer (ecology, evolution, behavior, Univ. of Minnesota; Into Africa) has spent decades studying lions in Tanzania. In this timely work, the author concentrates on the reasons for declining lion populations: habitat loss, big-game hunting, retaliation by local residents for human and livestock deaths, and disease. Written in diary format, the majority of the book explores the issues around lion conservation. Packer advocates for more transparency in allocating hunting blocks; only killing male lions over six years of age, a practice that research has shown will protect the overall population; and teaching people how to protect themselves and their livestock. However, many trophy hunters, as well as corrupt Tanzanian wildlife and other government officials, are against any changes to the current system owing to greed. Morevoer, the government hasn't budgeted the necessary funds to protect the parks and the local residents and their livelihoods. Ultimately, his efforts to conserve lions led to Packer's loss of his Tanzanian research clearance. VERDICT While flashbacks confuse the chronology a bit, this is a fast-paced, detailed inside look at the politics of lion conservation, the often corrupt big-game hunting fraternity, and Tanzanian government.-Sue O'Brien, Downers Grove P.L., IL © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.