The Return of the Unicorns - (Biology and Resource Management) by Eric Dinerstein (Paperback)

About the Book

Documenting one of the rare success stories in the history of wildlife conservation, The Return of the Unicorns distills two decades of intensive fieldwork and research on one of the world's most endangered animals: Rhinoceros unicornis, commonly known as the greater one-horned rhinoceros.

Book Synopsis

Beginning in 1984, Eric Dinerstein led a team directly responsible for the recovery of the greater one-horned rhinoceros in the Royal Chitwan National Park in Nepal, where the population had once declined to as few as 100 rhinos. The Return of the Unicorns is an account of what it takes to save endangered large mammals. In its pages, Dinerstein outlines the multifaceted recovery program--structured around targeted fieldwork and scientific research, effective protective measures, habitat planning and management, public-awareness campaigns, economic incentives to promote local guardianship, and bold, uncompromising leadership--that brought these extraordinary animals back from the brink of extinction. In an age when scientists must also become politicians, educators, fund-raisers, and activists to safeguard the subjects that they study, Dinerstein's inspiring story offers a successful model for large-mammal conservation that can be applied throughout Asia and across the globe.

Review Quotes

The first stop on any literary journey into the world of the greater one-horned rhinoceros, and a worthy read
for anyone interested in conservation of the planet's remaining megafauna.

-- "Journal of Mammalogy"

an excellent overview of many aspects of the biology and conservation of greater one-horned rhinos in Nepal.--Samuel Zschokke "Basic and Applied Ecology"

A landmark contribution on the ecology and conservation of large mammals.--Mark S. Boyce "Ecology"

A serious book full of essential information, and one that has but few rivals.... Dinerstein's book is a welcome contribution.-- "Pachyderm"

Dinerstein provides a glimmer of hope... with his success story of the conservation of the Indian or greater one-horned rhinoceros.... [He] discusses the implications of this success story for conservation efforts elsewhere, and clearly rejects attempts to capture rare animals and maintain their populations by captive breeding.--Donald R. Prothero "Quarterly Review of Biology"

This book offers much to anyone interested in practical, how-to conservation, far-away landscapes, large and exotic-sounding mammals, biodiversity, planning, and tropical ecology.... A beautifully candid account... this is the book that conservation pragmatists and cynics should read to discover why optimism about the conservation of large mammals in human-dominated landscapes is not misplaced.--Joel Berger "Conservation Biology"

About the Author

Eric Dinerstein is director of WildTech and the Biodiversity and Wildlife Solutions Program at RESOLVE. He also leads a team of biologists who help add biodiversity information to Global Forest Watch.

George B. Schaller is vice president of Panthera and has taught as an adjunct associate professor at Rockefeller University, East China Normal University in Shanghai, and Peking University.