Patagonia. The name connotes the exotic and a distance that seems nearly mythical. Tucked toward the toe of South America, this largely unsettled landscape is among the most varied and breathtaking in the world-aching in its beauty as it sweeps from the Andes through broad, arid steppes to pristine beaches and down to a famously violent sea. It is also home to a vast array of rare wildlife as diverse and fascinating as the region itself.
Act III in Patagonia is the first book to take an in-depth look at wildlife and human interaction in this spectacular area of the world. Written by William Conway, former president of the Wildlife Conservation Society, the book is unique in its concentration on the long Patagonian shoreline--populated by colorful cormorants, penguins, elephant seals, dolphins, sea lions, and numerous species of whale--and an increasing number of human beings.
Threatened by overfishing, invasive species, artificially abundant predators, and overgrazing, the Southern Cone of Patagonia is now the scene of a little-known conservation drama distinguished by the efforts of a dedicated group of local and foreign scientists determined to save one of the Earth's least-inhabited places. From tracking elephant seals in the Atlantic to following flamingos in the Andes, Act III in Patagonia takes readers to the sites where real-life field science is taking place. It further illuminates the ecology of the region through a history that reaches from the time of the Tehuelche Indians known by Magellan, Drake, and Darwin to the present.
Conway has helped to establish more than a dozen wildlife reserves in South America and is thus able not only to tell Patagonia's history, but to address its future. He brings a wealth of knowledge about Patagonia and its wildlife and responds to the difficult questions of how the interests of humans and wildlife are best balanced. He tells of the exciting collaborations among the Wildlife Conservation Society and its national and provincial partners to develop region-wide programs to save wildlife in steppes, coast, and sea, demonstrating that, with public support, there is hope for this stunning corner of the world. Though singular in their details, the conservation efforts Conway spotlights are a microcosm of what is happening in dozens of sites around the world.
"In this inspiring book, Bill Conway, who inspired so much cutting-edge work in conservation as president of the Wildlife Conservation Society, introduces us to a lonely region at the very end of the world. The familiarity Conway gained through dozens of expeditions enables him to present a fascinating account of the scattered human inhabitants and teeming wildlife of Patagonia. One cannot read this book without wanting to visit Patagonia and help to preserve its animals and way of life for all to enjoy, creating an Act III that is worthy of our highest aspirations."---Peter H. Raven, Director, Missouri Botanical Garden "If the library of natural history catalogues the intersection between human insight and the natural world, this volume fits proudly. In a literate, sweeping style, Bill Conway chronicles the struggles of Argentine Patagonia since human arrival. His avatars are the region's spectacular wildlife; the voice is masterful, the tone hopeful. Conway reminds us that we cannot afford a world without wildlife. He also demonstrates the power of a life devoted to conservation."---Steven Sanderson, President and CEO, Wildlife Conservation Society "A remarkable book about a remarkable place. William Conway brings to life the ongoing drama of wildlife and humanity in Patagonia. His elegant insights and wealth of knowledge give us an indispensable guide to the region."---Wade Davis, author of One River and Shadows in the Sun "Through his descriptive discussion of history past and present, William Conway introduces us to the uniqueness of Patagonia's threatened environs. More importantly, he details an optimistic and achi
