Image of Dr. Craig Packer from cbs.umn.edu
Lions In The Balance
Lions in the Balance: Man-Eaters, Manes, and Men With Guns, by Dr. Craig Packer takes you deep into the complex underbelly of African lion conservation. Packer pulls the curtain back revealing insights into the lives of the big cats and the dangers and risks of protecting them.
Dr. Packers diary-based chronicle minces no words as he tells the tale of cutting-edge research as well as the distressing corruption woven into the network of humans who hold the future of the African lion in their hands. Packer calls it how he experienced it and his candor likely infuriates politicians, aid agencies, millionaires, and conservationists.
Dr. Craig Packer. photo courtesy of University of Minnesota. cbs.umn.edu
Lion Conservation Required Creative and Powerful Survival Strategies
Lions in the Balance looks into the future of the lion, one where the politics of conservation will require survival strategies far more creative and powerful than those currently practiced anywhere today.
This book is not a leisurely read nor is it a them-against-us account of what is necessary to save the African lion from extinction. After 30 years of research, Dr. Packer understands the complexities involved and that there is no stark black and white solution to securing the future of the African lion.
You should read Lions in the Balance with an open mind knowing that even when we disagree with strategies in place, we must swallow the bitter pills for the role they play along side the strategies we think are the better solution.
Dr. Packer sheds light on the fact that trophy hunters actually control four times as much lion habitat in Africa than is protected in national parks, leaving 80% of the world’s lion in the hunters’ hands. His dislike for hunting does not blind him to the fact that trophy hunting plays a role in the future of the African lion.
His honesty about the complicated world of lion conservation has made him a target of zealot animal lovers too. Packer explains how some animal rights activists oversimplify lion conservation and are close-minded and unwilling to truly look at all strategies for the best solutions to secure a future for lions.
Dr. Packer, as a scientist, relies on the data and research to guide conservation policies, even when the policy goes against his personal preference. We all need to practice this methodology to save African lions.
The Lions In The Balance Giveaway
One member of The Tiniest Tiger community will receive a copy of Lions In The Balance: Man-Eaters, Manes and Men with Guns by Craig Packer. If you can’t wait, you can learn more about Lions In The Balance here Lions In The Balance
How to Enter
Enter your information in the contest widget so we know where to ship your prize if you win.
Leave a comment below this post telling us: What you would like to learn about the future of African lions.
This giveaway is open to everyone! Void Where Prohibited
I would like to know more about the controversial methods of keeping lions in our world.
I’d like to learn everything I can about lions so that I can help them in whatever ways possible.
I would love to learn about the lions struggles and what needs to be done to save them.
I want to know how to protect them. And I want to know all about the lions!
How are we going to protect the lions so they can live their lives in their environment.
I would like to know what measures are being taken to protect the lions. I big cats. Lions (and leopards!) are my favorite.
i want to know if they are thriving in the wild and what we can do to help
Everything. Lions are so beautiful. I would like to know about efforts to keep them from being hunted.
I like to learn anything about lions, especially with this craziness going on in the world, killing lions and other beautiful creatures for fun, it needs to be stopped and the animals need to be saved!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What can we do to change the laws in our country allowing hunting trophies to be shipped in.
I would like to learn just how bad things are for the lions and what needs to be done to save them…
I would like to know if we can save at least some lions, if there can be some place on earth where they are safe and can reproduce and thrive.
The world needs to know how to protect these beautiful animals…they have the right to live as lions live. We must stop Can hunting, stop having lions as pets in the US and stop having these animals in shows and using them when they are babies to make money. they just need to be lions in the wild and we need to learn about them and how to PROTECT them. And that goes for all wild animals that are suffering at the hands of humans.
I would like to learn more about what is being done to protect the lions and other big cats.
I would like to know what folks like me who love lions but will most likely never see them in the wild can do to help protect them. How can we most effectively bring pressure to bear on the governments and organizations that are in a position to do something?
This is impossible to know, but I would LOVE to know why some people enjoy trophy killing, I can’t even imagine a more gut wrenching experience. It is so beyond upsetting.
Lions rule. I would like to learn how conservationists can work with local communities; to keep lions and humans safe and help the lions populations thrive.
I would like to learn more about what is being done to protect lions.
I’d like to know how we can live with these majestic animals peacefully
Anything to promote animal conservation is important. I’ve read things recently about canned lion hunts and it’s disturbing. Shoot at animals with cameras, not guns!
I want to learn all about them in general and why males kill the cubs of other males when the species would be better off if all of them lived.
I would like to know what is being done to help orphaned cubs of poached lions, and whether they can be returned to the wild.
Would love to see what is being done and learn about what more needs to be done to save this majestic animal. I do not want to live in a world where there are no lions.
I bet it’s a very interesting read – my human wants to check it out.
Congratulations Summer! You are the winner of the copy of Lions in the Balance. Your book is shipping directly to you from Amazon.com. Thank you for being a part of The Tiniest Tiger community.
Yay! My human and I are very excited about this!
Lions are such magnificent, beautiful creatures. It angers me that they are threatened by hunters and poachers. I’d like more information on what I can do to help them.
What I’d really like to know is what the continent of Africa is going to do about all of the poachers and illegal hunters decimating the majestic lion community; lions are becoming fewer and fewer due to these out-of-control killers!! These felines have my heart; I pray for their continuous well being, freedom and their hopeful FOREVER progeny. LONG LIVE THE KING! [of the jungle!]
i would like to know why there are not more measures to safe guard these beautiful animals. there is no need to hunt them AT ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it is a disgrace to the countries that all this. i would like to learn abt lions in general, the mating, the cubs.
The most important thing I would like to learn is how lions WILL be allowed to live their lives in peace and safety. All my life, I have loved all cats and done everything in my power to protect and advocate for them. The facts that all large cat species are in trouble and small cats are also frequently in danger distresses me like nothing else. We need to protect those we love in a more effective manner!
I want to know what can be done to save them in the wild… I have loved lions since I saw them up close at the National Tiger Sanctuary in Missouri. It was an amazing experience looking into their eyes and I hate to think that wild lions could be lost.
I want to know all about Lions. I think they’re a beautiful animal!
I’d like to learn what is being done to stop canned hunts
What is the future of Lions in Africa? I’m concerned that soon the only lions that will be alive and safe are the ones that are kept in zoos; this is very disturbing.