Wonders of the Indian Wilderness (Hardcover)

The veneration of nature has always been an integral part of Indian culture, but the country’s wilderness is rapidly disappearing and only small fragments of it now remain. In the face of this ecological threat, “Wonders of the Indian Wilderness” provides a lavish celebration of the unique natural treasure that belongs to India and a call to protect and preserve it in the decades to come. Over 800 pages in scope, the book devotes its first half to exploring ‘The Nature of Biodiversity in India’, illustrating the incredible natural abundance of one of the twelve acknowledged mega-diversity nations of the world. Author Erach Bharucha describes the plant and animal species of India and the varied ecosystems of the country, confronting the urgent need to conserve biodiversity – a vital resource with immense economic potential-in the process.Among the hundreds of illustrations are a dazzling foldout review of Earth’s geological and evolutionary history and an eight-page extravaganza on India’s rich floral heritage. The second half of the volume focuses on National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries of India, recounting the distinctive ecosystems and species the author has encountered in his travels through over eighty of these areas – as well as the sobering changes he has witnessed in them over the years. Featuring more than 2000 stunning images, “Wonders of the Indian Wilderness” is not only an indispensable guide for environmentalists, educators, policy-makers, and eco-tourists but also an outstanding visual feast for the connoisseur. It is the most comprehensive available overview of the diversity and sheer beauty of life in the Indian wilderness.

About the Author

Erach Bharucha has been active in wildlife and nature conservation for nearly fifty years. A well-known wildlife photographer, he has traveled and studied Indian National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries extensively over the last three decades. He has been a member and executive of such conservation institutions as the Bombay Natural History Society, Worldwide Fund for Nature, and Wildlife Institute of India. In 1993 he began developing the Bharati Vidyapeeth Institute of Environment Education and Research (BVIEER). A surgeon by profession, he works in Pune, India. His previous publications include The Biodiversity of India (CD-ROM and book).