喬治·夏勒博士是全球三位最傑齣的野生動物學傢之一（美國《時代周刊》評選），曾任國際野生生物保護學會（WCS）的副主席。他在亞洲、非洲和南美洲的野外，為保護山地大猩猩、美洲豹、大熊貓、老虎、獅子以及喜馬拉雅山的野綿羊和野山羊等野生動物而研究和工作。其著作包括《大猩猩年》、《塞倫蓋提的獅子》、《最後的熊貓》和《西藏生靈》。他獲得的奬項包括日本的國際環境和諧奬和美國的國傢地理學會終身成就奬、美國的泰勒環境成就奬，因30年來為中國野生動物保護事業所做齣的卓越貢獻獲得中華環境保護基金會頒發的中華寶鋼環保奬。

Since the 1950s, eminent field biologist George Schaller has roamed through many lands observing wild animals and conducting landmark long-term studies that have deepened our understanding of these creatures. He has reported and reflected on his work in classic, much-acclaimed books, including The Last Panda and National Book Award winner The Serengeti Lion , but much of his best writing has been ephemeral, published in magazines, only to drop out of sight. This collection features 19 short pieces brought together in book form to offer a unique overview of his life in the field.

Chapters describe stalking tigers in India and jaguars in Brazil’s Pantanal swamps, studying mountain gorillas in Central Africa and predator-prey relations in the Serengeti, tracking newfound species on the wild border of Vietnam and Laos, searching for snow leopards in the Hindu Kush, and Schaller’s groundbreaking work with giant pandas in Sichuan. Later accounts broaden the focus from individual creatures to whole ecosystems. The careless rapture of my early studies has been replaced more and more by efforts to protect animals and their habitats,” he writes.

New to this book are Schaller’s introductions for each chapter, which add and update information, and an overall introduction that looks back on his remarkable career.