The Last Wild Wolves: Ghosts of the Rain Forest [With DVD]

by Ian McAllister

Book Overview

"As if appearing in a dream, a stream of wolves emerged from the forest edge." So begins this exhilarating journey to one of the planet's most spectacular regions--Canada's North Pacific coast, our largest intact temperate Rain Forest and one of the last places where wolves live wild and undisturbed. Award-winning writer and wildlife photographer Ian McAllister draws from his intimate observations of more than forty wolf packs along this rugged coastline...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0520254732
• ISBN13: 9780520254732
• Release Date: October 2007
• Publisher: University of California Press
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 3.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 11.1" x 10.8"

Customer Reviews

A magnificent labor of love

This book is a treasure. The author has spent seventeen years photographing and observing several unique wolf packs on the northern coast of British Columbia. These wolves are genetically different from inland wolves because they have been isolated by the enormous coastal mountain range. The photos are stunningly beautiful and the text accompanying them is inspiring and informative. I learned a lot about wolf behavior and their interactions with other coastal species such as bears, ravens, salmon, and orca whales. Wolves are the true apex predators in this environment, and have been known to dine on bears. The Surf Pack even eats barnacles! The author shows a tremendous love and respect for these magnificent animals and their habitat. It really comes through in his writing. It's shameful that greed and willful destruction are killing them and fouling their home. There's also a DVD that comes with this book, full of spectacular scenery and wolves in their element. And did I happen to mention yet that I LOVE this book?

A treasure for sure

I am usually not drawn to "coffee table books" but this one is not only stunning in the quality of photographs and layout, but the text of the book is a great and informative read. Here is what is different: The author relates his OBSERVATIONS of animals, not his interpretations of their behavior and lets you decide for yourself. Although at one point he says he never met a wolf he didn't like, his narrative will not turn off someone who doesn't like wolves either. Here are the facts of the behaviors of some wolves who have had the chance to adapt to their particular environment without being "managed". The results are very interesting and would be interesting to any reader who is interested in the natural world at all. I could understand, probably for the first time, why people can hate wolves so throughly and blindly. I could also understand the equally blind love of wolves that people profess. People are extreme on wolf issues when they don't understand the animal . . on both sides of love and hate. The reason I recommend this book so strongly is that it is the real thing. Not politically or sentimentally motivated but here are some wolf packs, here is how they live and this is what they do. The author is a good writer and the book reads like an adventure you'd like to be a part of. This might be one of the last honest wildlife books as more and more our animal information is becoming either a Hollywood script filled in with the right wildlife shots or politically and selfishly motivated. I give this book a solid five stars.

Fantastic Book

This book is striking visually, but its greatest impact is in the story it tells of the wolves in the region. It is a remarkable journey that captures a connection to the wolves. However, I must issue a warning: You may think less of your own species for the lack of respect many of us exhibit toward the wolves. I would love to see this book as part of high school education to help raise awareness. It is a uplifting book that gives one hope.

Must read for every who cares

This was an incredible book. I was so into it I read it straight through, in the end I was in tears. It is unbelievable what we are capable of doing to nature. I knew about the Wolves before reading this book but this completed my knowledge. I was so impressed with all the hard work the researchers put into learning about the wolves with out invading their space. I am not against the use of technology to research but sometimes I believe we go to far and harm more than our later protection can help. I for one send my thanks and support to this team. My heart goes out to the pain they must have felt in seeing the aftermath.

A Masterpiece!!!

It is everything I hoped it to be...breathtaking photographs and brilliant writings. It has found a permanent place on my bookshelf. Thank you Mr. McAllister!