Where Do Camels Belong? - by Ken Thompson (Paperback)

About the Book

Originally published: London: Profile Books, 2014.

Book Synopsis

Where do camels belong? In the Arab world is the obvious answer. But they are relative newcomers there. They evolved and lived for tens of millions of years in North America, while today they retain their greatest diversity in South America and have their only wild populations in Australia. This is a classic example of the problems that underlie the issues of natural and invasive species, a hot issue right now, as the flip side of biodiversity. But do we need to fear invaders? And indeed, can we control them, and do we choose the right targets? In Where Do Camels Belong? Ken Thompson puts forward a fascinating array of narratives on invasive and natural plants and animals to explore what he sees as the crucial question -- why only a minority of introduced species succeed, and why so few of them go on to cause trouble. He discusses, too, whether fear of invasive species could be getting in the way of conserving biodiversity, and especially of responding to the threat of climate change. This is a timely, instructive and controversial book that delivers unexpected answers.

Review Quotes

"Ken Thompson builds a careful, documented, detailed case with copious examples; smooth, factual, wry and humorous writing; an ecologist's training but a journalist's writing. His explanations are accessible, and very entertaining. ...This clear-eyed, lucid, conversational essay securely asserts that our focus on native or alien is misguided" Five stars —San Francisco Book Review

"Fascinating, provocative... Ken Thompson presents a stimulating challenge to our perceptions of nature"--George Monbiot

"The information he presents is compelling. ...This title brings an important minority opinion to light"--School Library Journal

"Thompson makes his case in a lively, readable style, spiced with a healthy dose of sarcasm towards "aliens = bad" fundamentalists. Better yet, he bolsters his argument with plenty of citations from the scientific literature, which adds welcome heft." --New Scientist

"A well put together book about the science and the philosophy surrounding invasive species"--The Times

"Lively and punchy ... you walk away from this book feeling flushed and a bit bruised. Thompson's arguments are powerful and his examples are fascinating"--The Sunday Times

About the Author

Dr. Ken Thompson has combined a career lecturing in the Department of Animal and Plant Sciences at the University of Sheffield with writing on gardening for the Daily Telegraph (London). He has written five previous books, including Do We Need Pandas: The Uncomfortable Truth About Biodiversity, and lives in Sheffield, U.K.