United States
£ GBP
This book explores the fates of whales and dolphins and how they became intertwined with human history. The story begins over 1000 years ago when hunters first took up harpoons and went to sea in search of the rich rewards of meat, oil and whalebone.
Troubled Waters charts a course through the whaling boom of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the tragic implications of commercial fishing and noise pollution, the controversial keeping of dolphins in captivity, and the current row over Japanese whaling. Discover the natural history of these fascinating animals in the context of the social, cultural and political developments that have shaped their lives during the unlikely transition from whale-hunting to whale-watching. Dispelling common misconceptions - Are dolphins really supernaturally intelligent? Are the great whales in danger of extinction? - and opening up current arguments, this gripping investigation explains just why whales and dolphins became one of the major harvests of the sea, and how humans are destined to affect their future.
INTRODUCTION - A WHALE OF A TALE; CHAPTER 1 - IN THE BEGINNING On the evolution of whales and dolphins; CHAPTER 2 - BLUBBER, BALEEN AND LIQUID GOLD On the early history of whaling; CHAPTER 3 - ARMED AND DANGEROUS On industrial-scale whaling; CHAPTER 4 - A CONFLICT OF INTERESTS On modern whaling; CHAPTER 5 - SHARING THE SEA On habitat loss, the perils of fishing nets, and loud noises; CHAPTER 6 - HOT WATER AND HEAVY METAL On climate change and chemical pollution; CHAPTER 7 - CLOSE ENCOUNTERS On Captivity, Collaboration and Intelligence; CHAPTER 8 - LOOKING AHEAD On The Future of Whales and Dolphins
Sarah Lazarus is a science and natural history writer who has written extensively for the Natural History Museum and Science Museum. She has also contributed to four books from the Rough Guide travel series and numerous television programmes as varied as Mastermind and Survival.
'...an accessible and informative read that never feels dry or academic. It's beautifully illustrated, too.' Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society Magazine, Autumn 2006 issue. 'It is an incisive, tender and ultimately uplifting book' The Good Book Guide, January 2007.
