Giraffe Reflections

August 19, 2013
Conservationists estimate that there are fewer than 75,000 giraffes remaining in the world, scattered about in small pockets of declining habitat across Africa. In this stunning collection of Ammann's photographs, Peterson (Jane Goodall) offers an engaging natural history of giraffes, as well as a look at their behavior and beauty. The Greek historian Agatharchides referred to the giraffe as the animal that "Greeks call camelopardalis⦠t has the varied coat of a leopard, the shape of a camel⦠ts neck is long enough for it to browse in the tops of trees." Drawing on scientific studies, Peterson notes the manifold advantages of being tall and long-necked, which increases the animals' ability to avoid predators, thermoregulate, forage for food, and find suitable mates. Giraffes exhibit traits that reveal the workings of their own mental worlds, including the behaviors of sparring, vigilance, fear, and flight. Ammann's exquisite photos portray the giraffes' majesty and just how impoverished our world would be if they "march into a night of nonexistence." 111 color illus., 2 b&w photos.

Starred review from September 1, 2013

The African continent is home to many stunning animals, not least of which is the giraffe. This magnificent book--another collaboration by Peterson (English, Tufts Univ.) and wildlife photographer Ammann (coauthors, Elephant Reflections)--describes the role the giraffe has played in a variety of cultures, such as those of prehistoric Kalahari Bushmen (who carved them into sandstone), ancient Greeks and Romans (who called them "camel-leopards"), Ming Dynasty Chinese (who considered them magical unicorns), Islamic potentates (who called them "zarafas" and gifted them to European royalty), and Renaissance Italians of Florence (to whom they were a "quadrupedal astonishment"). Peterson also traces the history of the scientific study of giraffes, including recent field studies that have been crucial to our understanding of giraffe social systems and behaviors, e.g., the giraffe "necking" (sparring) behavior and the mother-baby bond. Throughout, the story of the giraffe is told as much with images as with text. Each chapter concludes with a series of Ammann's breathtaking photographs, which have been selected and sequenced to illustrate specific themes. VERDICT This is engrossing natural history about one of nature's most intriguing animals. Highly recommended for all who enjoy learning about African wildlife.--Cynthia Lee Knight, Hunterdon Cty. Lib., Flemington, NJ

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