Product Description
The Soul of a Lion: Reflections on a life lived with animals
Author: Willie Labuschagne
Format: Trade Paperback
, an engaging memoir by Willie Labuschagne, is an exhilarating journey which begins with the young conservationist’s unique experiences with wild animals. From his groundbreaking research on the desert cheetah’s behaviour and ecology to becoming an internationally respected consultant on environmental and wildlife-related issues, he holds the reader’s attention with all the skill of the master storyteller. The numerous occasions when Willie faced potentially life-threatening situations with wild animals are vividly recounted, many of them wryly humorous while others evoke deep emotion.
But not all animal encounters took place in the wild. A significant and poignant encounter that further inspired Willie’s approach to conservation occurred when, during his time as director of the Johannesburg Zoo, he and his family hand-raised a newborn lion cub that had been rejected by its mother. He recalls the countless obstacles put in his way by the bureaucratic nature of his own species during his tenure at the zoo. But despite numerous challenges he persisted in his goal of transforming and improving zoological institutions.
A moving force behind the changing nature of professionally managed zoological gardens, his book reminds us that, while many of the world’s zoos should be unconditionally closed, progressive modern zoos are becoming increasingly aligned to wildlife conservation: they are vital for ensuring the survival of threatened species.
Willie shares his entertaining and often moving life experiences with warmth and understanding, whether it is sleeping under the stars with the bushmen of the Kgalagadi desert or observing the traditions of the Zulu Royal House.
His travels in the African landscape in particular are an exciting panorama of many distinctive habitats, from the relentless desert of the Skeleton Coast in Namibia to the pristine beauty of the Tsitsikamma Forest and the breathtaking vastness of the African bushveld. Importantly, he is forthright in his view of the critical position of the world we live in and the future it holds for mankind and believes that we are all part of a custodianship which should do everything in its power to protect our fragile environment.
About the Author
WILLIE LABUSCHAGNE is a devoted and internationally celebrated wildlife conservationist and holds a master’s degree in wildlife management. For more than five decades he has been actively involved in the conservation of threatened species for which he has received national and international recognition, culminating in numerous awards. Willie started his career as a zoologist at the Johannesburg Zoological Gardens, and was later promoted to Director. In 1985 he was appointed the Executive Director of the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa. In 1989 he launched the Pan-African Association of Zoological Gardens, Aquaria and Botanic Gardens, and served for six years as chairman. In 1998 he received the PAAZAB Award in recognition of his contribution to the advancement of zoological gardens in Africa. In 1999 Willie was elected president of the World Association of Zoos and Aquaria and in 2007 received the Heini Hediger Award, recognising his contribution to the progression of zoological gardens worldwide. In 2006 Willie took early retirement when he was headhunted by the late His Excellency Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, president of the United Arab Emirates, to manage his private Department of Nature Conservation. Willie returned to South Africa permanently in 2015 and has since established a consultancy, Willie Labuschagne Wildlife Consultants, which specialises in zoo development. He now spends his time writing about his experiences and is also much in demand as a speaker. The Soul of a Lion is Willie’s first book.
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