Great Cats

The great cats reign supreme among the world's most fascinating creatures. Representations of these animals have been evident throughout human history from the prehistoric cave paintings of France to the tomb of Tutankhamen, from the proud lion of Piazza San Marco in Venice to the haunting rhythms of Blake's "Tyger, tyger burning bright." So sleek and self-sufficient, these relatives of the domestic cat all share the instinct to hunt, to survive, and to master their environment.Truly unique and magnificent, Great Cats is a book about all the cats from the well-known lion and tiger to the rare and elusive kodkod and Andean mountain cat. Great Cats documents the latest discoveries about the origins of cats, and about their form and function. In addition the book explores the historic and present relationship between cats and people.The stories of all the cats are complemented by a stunning collection of over 200 full- color photographs and illustrations. A specially commissioned, original painting of each species of cat is featured together with individual maps showing the most recent distribution of all the species.Most importantly, Great Cats draws our attention to the conservation prospects of the cats today, 16 of the 37 cat species, and one or more subspecies of other species, are threatened or in danger of extinction. With the development of the conservation movement and a growing awareness of the fragility of wildlife, the cats have become increasingly valued and protected in many parts of the world. This is only a beginning, however, and to ensure that the great cats survive in the wild, we must all learn more about these magnificent animals. Great Cats provides a rare and special insight into the lives of some of nature's most captivating creatures.