The Lost Camels of Tartary
Entrusting his life to a colourful cast of companions - an unreformed poacher and a murderous driver among them - John Hare braves bandit attacks, ferocious sandstorms which dissipate his herd of domestic camels, shares a wild camel calf’s first few hours, tracks the equally endangered Gobi bear and happens upon previously undiscovered Tu Ying, an outpost of the ancient city of Lou Lan.
In the process, he and the team of Chinese scientists have brought world-wide attention to the plight of the critically endangered wild camel – the 8th most endangered large mammal on the planet - and have persuaded the Chinese to establish, in their former nuclear test area, one of the largest nature reserves in the world to protect them from illegal mining and hunting.
John Hare shows that, with imagination, courage, diplomacy, dogged tenacity, self-confidence and a wonderful sense of humour; it is still possible to accomplish the impossible.
Dr Jane Goodall DBE