Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Book Review -- "Great Soul of Siberia"

     Several weeks ago I recommended a great program to watch called "Siberian Tiger Quest".  That program, which appeared on Nature on PBS, tells the story of Sooyong Park's study of the Siberian Tiger.  The camera work in this film is stunning.
     Sooyong Park has now written a book called "Great Soul of Siberia" about his work with the Siberian tigers in Russia.  This book adds a great deal more information than what is available in the PBS film.
     In this book, Park explains the way in which his research is conducted.  Half of the year is spent mapping out the areas where the Siberian tigers are active.  The second half of the year is spent in small bunkers where Park waits for days on end for the tigers to appear so that he can capture them on film.
     The book is very well-written.  When Park describes the time three tigers were attempting to enter his bunker, the reader will feel all of the emotions Park was experiencing at that moment.
     Like all books written about critically endangered species, this book contains its moments of tragedy.  However, it is also a book of hope for the future of these magnificent animals.
     One other interesting aspect of this book that I want to mention is that Park also gives a lot of information about the people who live in Siberian tiger country.  This makes for a well-rounded and informative work.
 

     Next week, I will reveal my picks for the best dog book and the best cat book that I have read in 2015.

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