Book Review: Going Going Gone by Malcolm Tait
A Summary of Animals and Plants on the Edge of Extinction
With the increasing number of reports about the global environmental crisis, it is easy for people to become overwhelmed with the magnitude of the problem. Limited time and resources mean that it is not possible to support every worthwhile cause or organisation.
Author Malcolm Tait approached 100 conservation groups around the world and posed the following question: If you could protect only one species, which would you chose? Their responses are collected in Going, Going, Gone? (Macmillan Australia, 2008) and the result is a visually and intellectually impacting book suitable for anyone concerned about nature.
A Guide to Animals and Plants on the Brink of Extinction
First published in 2006, Going, Going, Gone offers information on 100 animals and plants that the world’s leading environmental and conservation groups believe are in the most significant need of assistance or intervention.
Some of the species will be familiar to many readers. The cheetah, black rhino, giant panda and African elephant are commonly mentioned in lists of endangered species and the familiarity of the general public with both the animal and their plight helps to promote the importance of better environmental conservation programmes. In addition to these easily recognisable animals, Going, Going Gone features a number less known mammals, reptiles, birds, insects and plants.
Each double page entry includes:
- Full page photograph
- Common and scientific name, size and status
- Population, lifespan and range (location)
- General information
- Significant threats
- Information on support programs and other ways to assist
A Diverse Collection of At Risk Animals and Plants
The inclusion of such a variety of species brings home to the reader the immense and immediate need for people to begin to treat nature and their environment with more care. The inclusion of not only contact details for each organisation but also practical, low-cost tips to enable readers to reduce their environmental impact offers every reader the opportunity to have a positive influence.
Writing letters to local politicians, surveying and monitoring of local animal populations or growing a Wollemi Pine offer alternatives to standard requests for donations, although the groups listed all require ongoing financial assistance to continue their important work.
With a large number of books on the market targeting specific animals or plants in crisis, Going, Going, Gone provides readers the opportunity to find a cause or organisation that particularly resonates with their own priorities or concerns. From the Millenium Seed Bank Project to Rare conservation, the groups listed in this book offer readers opportunities to make a difference.
The Importance of Conservation Organisations and Awareness
The recent release of the 2008 Red List by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature highlights the need for people to become more aware of the impact modern society and living has on the environment. Published every four years, the 2008 Red List reports that population numbers for more than half of the world’s mammals are dropping with one in four at risk of permanent extinction.
Books such as Going, Going, Gone highlight not only the rich diversity of animals that are under threat, but also provide practical options for everyday people to support the protection of these species and improve their own environmental awareness. It is also ideal for discussing conservation and the environment with children.
By combining a diverse overview of species at risk with practical everyday tips and contact details for the conservation organisations listed, Malcolm Tait has offered readers not only information about the problems facing the environment, but also a collection of tools to enable them to become part of the solution.
Going, Going, Gone (ISBN: 978-1-84525-058-4, 215 pages)
Going, Going, Gone by Malcolm Tait
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