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Open this book to visit Asia's amazing wildlife sanctuaries to view first-hand the wonders of the natural world. The Asian continent has the world's highest mountains, hottest deserts and oldest rainforests. And it is the perfect starting point for an exploration of the incredible diversity of wildlife that the world is now in danger of losing due to climate change, population pressures, deforestation and other factors.
Take an unforgettable journey to 27 wildlife sanctuaries spread across 14 Asian countries. Here is just a brief taste of what awaits you in these pages:
- Kanha Tiger Reserve in central India, one of the country's best managed parks and a favourite site to observe the Bengal Tiger
- Borneo's Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, home to some of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Asia, including rich assemblages of large mammals and lowland forest birds
- A visit to the jungle-covered islands of the Raja Ampat Archipelago in eastern Indonesia, one of the world's top birdwatching spots, also some of the world's best diving spots
- Shiretoko National Park in Hokkaido, Japan, the best sanctuary in Asia to see Brown Bears, with brief and mild summers offering opportunities for whale watching and excellent bird-watching throughout the year
Asia's Greatest Wildlife Sanctuaries is the work of two devoted conservationists who have spent 20 years exploring, documenting and photographing Asia's incredible wildlife. This book is published to raise awareness and funds in support of BirdLife International for their conservation projects in Asia.
Fanny Lai is passionate about wildlife. She is a cartoonist, author, travel writer and former Group CEO of Wildlife Reserves Singapore, which comprises the Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, Jurong Bird Park and River Wonders. She is known for her entrepreneurial business skills through a career that has spanned 30 years in marketing and corporate management. Fanny holds an Executive MBA from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.
Bjorn Olesen is a retired corporate executive, award winning wildlife photographer, author and engaged conservationist. A Singapore resident, he has lived over 35 years in Asia travelling to some of the most exciting wildlife sites on the planet. His articles and images have appeared in many local and overseas publications. All his photos are available free of charge to conservation NGOs. Contact: bjornolesen@gmail.com.
Yong Ding Li manages BirdLife International's work to conserve migratory species in East and Southeast Asia, as well as working on issues relating to the wild meat trade in tropical Asia. Ding Li did his doctoral research at the Australian National University on conservation biology and briefly worked at the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF), before joining BirdLife in 2017. He has worked widely in Asia and led studies on birds and biodiversity in Australia, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam. Ding Li sits on the editorial board of Avian Conservation and Ecology. He has written widely on biodiversity issues and authored over 80 papers.
Foreword by HIH Princess Takamado of Japan. Honorary President of BirdLife International.
"A breathtakingly beautiful celebration, with photographs so intimate that you feel you are out with Bjorn and Fanny watching live animals in the wilderness [...] This wonderful book will inspire love and respect for Asian wildlife and passion for its conservation."
– Professor Nick Davies, University of Cambridge
"This book is an important testament to why Asia's fabulous but threatened biodiversity needs to be cherished and protected. Stunning images complement the text to produce a book that is both a visual delight as well as informative to assist those planning a trip to the region's top wildlife sites. This book will remind policy planners and decision makers their responsibility to protect these outstanding sites for future generations."
– Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne, Writer & Photographer, Chairperson, London Bird Club
"We have and are losing so much of the living world. But this inspiring book catalogues, nation by nation, how a host of Asian nature reserves have succeeded in preserving thousands of irreplaceable species. [...] And, as always with Lai and Olesen, the photographs capture these species with breathtaking clarity and beauty"
– Dr. John van Wyhe, Historian of Science and one of the world's leading experts on Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace
