Wild Cats of the World Hardcover - 2002

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From the rear cover

Did you know that European royalty once used cheetahs to hunt deer, or that caracals can capture birds by leaping six and a half feet straight up into the air from a standing start? Have you ever wondered whether domestic cats really do always land on their feet when they fall, or how Canada lynx can stalk their prey in the winter without falling through the snow? Wild Cats of the World is a treasure trove of answers to questions like these, and many others, for anyone who's interested in learning more about the world's felids, including the ones with whom we share our homes. Mel Sunquist and Fiona Sunquist have spent more than a decade gathering information about cats from every available source, many of them quite difficult to find. They draw on historical documents such as descriptions of hunts and observations by naturalists and travelers, as well as more recent information in scientific journals, archaeological research, reports from government agencies, and newsletters from a wide variety of organizations. Weaving information from these sources together with their own experiences observing wild cats around the world, the Sunquists have created the most comprehensive reference on felids available. Each of their accounts of the thirty-six species of cat contains a description of the cat, including human interactions with it, as well as detailed data on distribution, ecology and behavior, status in the wild, and conservation efforts. Many photographs, including more than forty in full color, illustrate these accounts. From the two-pound black-footed cat to the five-hundred-pound tiger, and from the African serval with its satellite-dish ears to the web-footed fishing cat of Asia, Wild Cats of the World has information that will fascinate and educate felid fans of any stripe (or spot).