Koulèv - by Dennis John Cathcart (Paperback)

About the Book

True-life adventures of a native Floridian explorer and animal collector.

Book Synopsis

Black and White Edition

A young man who grew up during the 1950s in South Florida, fed his imagination by reading books about the exploits of explorers and animal collectors that fueled his dreams of adventure, becomes an explorer of the wild American tropics. Danger and excitement are all in a day's work as he seeks to capture deadly pit vipers, giant poisonous frogs, land iguanas and boas, in deserts, on uninhabited islands, and steamy jungles. Those fond of travel to Florida, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and South America will appreciate his stories of the land, people, history, and wildlife in a recent past era. For fans of true-life adventure, the trials, and tribulations of seat-of-the-pants, solo travel, of dealing with unexpected dangers with only grit and determination, of being saved by angels too often to be just chance, will keep you hooked. Lovers of wildlife, especially reptiles, and the wild places where they live, will find hundreds of species mentioned in the text. Herpetologists, especially, will enjoy a nostalgic, factual look back at "how it was" in the wild world of herping in the 1960s and early '70s. Koulèv - Book One includes over 150 photos, clippings, maps, and suggested reading.

Review Quotes

Long ago I met Dennis Cathcart by accident, literally and figuratively. He and a friend saw me

and a friend get into a serious auto accident deep in the Florida Everglades. We began sharing

life adventures involving reptiles almost immediately. Dennis had many real-life experiences

in the West Indies by the time I met him. His storytelling captivated me just as his book will

captivate you. Dennis was an early mentor at the time without knowing it. If you want a book to

take you from weird, to almost unbelievable life adventures, this is the book for you. I'm in more

than one of those surreal adventures myself! - Tom Crutchfield, Homestead, Florida,

Tom Crutchfield - A Life Lived Among Venomous Snakes & Dangerous Reptiles

Mr. Cathcart's honest portrayal of my father, his work and what it meant to not only Costa Rica,

but the region, is excellent. While I was not alive during that time and only had my father with

me for a short time after that, what I read gave me a greater understanding of a man, who even

with his faults, made the world a better place while with us. I will always be grateful to Mr.

Cathcart for sharing his experiences. -

Lt. Col. Herschel H. Flowers Jr., US Army CBRN School, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri

The author, Dennis Cathcart, has done a magnificent job with this book, sharing his lifetime of

passion and drive for adventure. It is sure to bring enjoyment and excitement to every reptile

enthusiast from amateur hobbyists to professionals alike. A walk back in time, starting in the

epic days when South Florida was the center of the exotic reptile trade. Then it's on to adventures

in the Caribbean, Costa Rica, and beyond, detailing history-making events. The book is just

plain enjoyable. - Jack Facente, AGRITOXINS Venom Lab, St. Cloud, Florida. Board Member, King Cobra Conservancy https: //www.thekingcobra.org/

A pleasant walk down memory lane. When Dennis and I became friends, we formed a bond over

a shared interest in collecting and studying reptiles. This went on for many years. Our travels

together led us through most of the Caribbean, Mexico, Haiti and Florida...and some of the best

times of my life. It's a great read.

- Ed Chapman, Reptile Research Support, Inc., Homestead, Florida

Meeting Dennis at the World Bromeliad Conference in 1994, I appreciated his abundant knowledge

and sincerity; fortunately, we became good friends. Having enjoyed his writing style in his

quarterly Cargo Report, my thought was always that a book of his adventures would be a super

read-and it is! - Stephen Littlefield, Underhill Studio: https: //www.stephenlittlefield.com/