From the Introduction: "The fact is out, there is no denying it, most of the world's wildlife is in grave danger. It is going so fast we can't keep score. Over 1,000 species or or subspecies are in danger at this moment (as is 10 percent of the world's flowering plants). Each year sees more and more wildife approach extinction while man, for the most part, remains oblivious to what is not only the fate of wild animals but what must eventually be his fate, too."

The author presents an almost comprehensive assault on ignorance. Too few people seem to understand. We do not appreciate or solve the issues about "wild life". For some reason, there are people that would like us to believe wild life is dangerous, but it seldom is. We are a major threat to wild life. All of it.

The author addresses all the absurd claims against other creatures. He specifically takes on the absurd claims of "hunters". Roger Caras has dug into the facts and statistics -- most of which are difficult to find and confirm. He interviewed the last of the true hunters and folks who have actual experience with actual wild life. Virtuall all such people are now either dead or fighting for the lives of the last wild life.

Part I. The Mammals - Great Cats, Wolves, Bears, Leopard Seal and Walrus, Killer Whale, Elephants, Venomous Mammals, Others.

I loved learning about the "forty distinct kinds of wild cats" -- and that there were forty! Siberian Tiger is 12 feet long, The smaller Felidae are the most efficient land predators left on earth. Man-eaters are not "rare", but cats generally avoid man whenever possible.

Leopard and panther are different words/ interchangeable, for the same creature in the Old World, in both spotted and melanin dominant forms. In the New World, the "mountain lion" / puma is distinct and "the Florida panther" is actually a misnomer. The South American jaguar also has both melanism and albinism. Tigers tend to Albinism. Lions to neither. Tiger grow to lengths of ten feet --begger than the largest of lions. Immense strength, swim well, have excellent hearing, but not the best eyesight. Unless it moves. Curiously, lions and tigers are anatomically very close, and they readily interbreed -- Ligers and Tiglons, and numerous subspecies of lions. Lions are cooperative hunters, and almost all kills are done by females.

Wolves - relatives of the jackals, fox and dog. Once ranged all over the world except Austrialia and the Pacific region. Hunts in packs, from mice to moose. Larger brain than a dog of comparable size. Dismayed by the "nonsense" directed against this animal.

"Almost certainly, wolves have attacked men; probably provoked for the most part by the rigors of thie environment or by rabies. But, it is equally certain that such attacks were exceptional at best. Wolves are shy and retiring animals unless sorely pressed." [41]

Pt II. The Birds. None are dangerous. But the casuarries will attack man. They reach 5 feet in height, A hysteric Ostrich in a confined space may deliver a terrible kick. The Mute Swan will attack if their nests are approached.

Pt III. Reptiles.

Pt IV. Amphibians and Fish.

Pt. V Invertebrates - insects, spiders, scoprions, venomous cones, giant clam, octopus and squid, jellyfish.

Jellyfish stings can be fatal. Phylum Coelenterata, include hydroids, corals and anemones. Vary from microscopic to Gyanea capillata, ranging in Arctic waters, with diameter of over 7 feet and 100 foot tentacles. By 1962 about 24 species were known to have some medical effect, and the number was growing. The Box Jelly (sea wasp, or Chironex fleckeri, not the Portugese Man-o-war), is the most deadly [317].

Pt. VI. Potential Dangers. The author shows that the most dangerous creature to man is man. [321] Platyhelminthine (flatworm) can "slime" you but not hurt you. Corals can cause discomfort, but not death. Leeches, the same. Sea Urchins can cause serious wounds if a venomous spine is stepped upon [323]. Marine bristle worms (Annelids) can cause serious rashes.

Appendices - include treatment for injuries, rabies, rattlesnakes, reptile Hall of Infamy", snakebite histories, 'Ciguatura" - fish poisoning.

Exhaustive. ( )