Review by Choice Review
Madagascar, isolated from Africa for at least 120 million years, provides a view of what might have been. In particular, humankind's ancestors took a different turn on Madagascar. The bright-eyed sailors that drifted involuntarily to Madagascar became Lemurs, Indri, and Aye-aye. This beautifully illustrated book is for those who have heard of a lemur but not the rest. Those who already know of Madagascar will need this book for their next field trip, real or imagined. This new version of independent scholar Garbutt's 1999 book (CH, Nov'99, 37-1557) now boasts 228 color photographs, 189 range maps, and 63 drawings. It offers identification tips, habitats, and interesting behaviors of all the resident mammals (of course), but also information on where tourists should go to find each one. In the intervening years since the earlier volume, researchers have identified 26 new species of Lemur. Although the situation is dire, conservation efforts have also picked up, with the creation of 15 new national parks since the author began his revisions. The author's skill with a camera and the interest he created in these charming characters is no doubt part of the conservation work's success. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels. G. C. Stevens formerly, University of New Mexico
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
