Vanishing Kings: A Celebration of the adaptation of Lions
HPH Publishing, known for their beautifully illustrated coffee-table books primarily focusing on Africa’s wildlife, have launched a showpiece in March 2018 that will captivate those who love wildlife, and lions in particular.
Image Supplied HPH Publishing
The book, ‘Vanishing Kings – Lions of the Namib Desert’ is the culmination of two decades of research by Dr Philip Stander, which provides unprecedented insight into how lions have adapted to the harsh desert environment. The book is substantial, featuring more than 350 pages of visuals and content, and will be available in stores in late March / early April 2018.
Says HPH Publishing’s Heinrich van den Berg,
“Dr Stander has succeeded in merging art and hard science into a profoundly detailed and beautiful book that will find its place as easily on a coffee table in the environmentally conscious home as on the shelf of the most discerning conservationist.”
The book, Vanishing Kings, follows a documentary by the same name, produced by wildlife filmmakers Will and Lianne Steenkamp. Such is the immense amount and compelling nature of the material gathered, that a sequel to the film will be released in mid-March 2018.
The book, and the films portray the lives of four consecutive generations of Namib lions which Stander was able to follow and come to know individually for the duration of their lifespans. Each lion is afforded the chance to play a character in this story, revealing individual personality traits captured in anecdotes and interactions as well as exquisite photographs. The book will strike a chord with anyone with a love for these noble creatures, and also promises to reach them in a way they may not have been reached before – visually, intellectually, emotionally, and for the more academic reader – scientifically – because most research events in the book are original data that have not previously been published
“What Stander and the Steenkamps have managed to create through Vanishing Kings will be felt for years to come,” says van den Berg. “In a world of instant gratification, it is a celebration of the value of long-term work that reflects a complete immersion into a time and place”.
The ongoing theme of human-wildlife conflict captured in the book presents as many solutions as challenges and has already influenced conservation policy in Namibia. It is also a relevant and comprehensive case study for the collaboration of multiple disciplines in conservation, research, tourism and government.
A percentage of the proceeds from the book will be donated towards Desert Lion conservation.
This is an absolute jewel of a book and an advance edition is available for order until the 25th March 2018 on the website: www.vanishingkingsbook.com
Your advanced order will save you R50, and have your book delivered by courier before end of April in RSA. The books will be available in leading book stores and on the on-line store from the beginning of April for R699.00.
