From the sleek cheetah and the majestic lion to the oft-maligned hyena and opportunistic jackal, large carnivores reign supreme in the African wild. In African Predators, award-winning photographer Martin Harvey's dramatic images complement biologist Gus Mills's extensive field research to bring fourteen species of African carnivores to life. This group contains members of the families of cats (Felidae), hyenas (Hyaenidae), and dogs (Canidae), each with distinguishing as well as common characteristics.

Mills describes the origins and evolution of these mighty predators, examines their social structures and hunting behaviors, discusses their competition with each other for shrinking territory and resources, and presents the conservation status and outlook for each. Harvey's engaging full-color photographs bring the everyday existence of these majestic animals vividly to life.