Bruce Bryden's true stories about the life of a bushveld conservationist draws on 27 years in the service of the Kruger National Park. It makes for a gripping read, abounding with encounters with elephant, lion, buffalo, leopard and rhino, whether darting for research, managing culling operations by helicopter or stalking on foot. In the best tradition of bushveld stories, there is a great deal of shooting, and a fair amount of running away; there are meetings with extraordinary characters among the rangers; memorable gatherings; hilarious mishaps and narrow escapes; and throughout, a great love and respect for both the wilderness and the creatures that inhabit it. Bruce Bryden started his career in the Kruger National Park in 1971 as a graduate assistant biologist. He progressed through the ranks as ranger, district ranger, park warden and regional ranger, eventually becoming chief ranger in 1983.

26 short stories of an Arizona game warden's most interesting cases spanning 20 years of his career.

What started as a vision about the Olifants River Game Reserve has become the story of a game ranger s lifeHe tells his story here and provides a wealth of lessons on conservation as well as stories of life in the bush, as it is enjoyed only by those fortunate enough to live on a Big Five reserve. With a naturalist s eye for detail as well as the bigger picture of managing a fragile ecosystem through years of drought and plenty, Mario Cesare brings a storyteller s delight and a dash of Italian passion to sharing his world.Life-and-death encounters with lion, elephant and buffalo are balanced by rescues and interventions as these giants of the lowveld suffer the effects of human interference in their ecosystem. There are problems with poachers and with rapacious neighbors; then the delights of success and in the case of the elephant population, the conundrums of too much success.

Meet Ranger! He's a time-traveling golden retriever who has a nose for trouble . . . and always saves the day! Ranger has been trained as a search-and-rescue dog, but can't officially pass the test because he's always getting distracted by squirrels during exercises. One day, he finds a mysterious first aid kit in the garden and is transported to the year 1850, where he meets a young boy named Sam Abbott. Sam's family is migrating west on the Oregon Trail, and soon after Ranger arrives he helps the boy save his little sister. Ranger thinks his job is done, but the Oregon Trail can be dangerous, and the Abbotts need Ranger's help more than they realize!

This book should appeal to a wide range of readers, from those that have spent time working in the bush and can relate to these stories, to those still contemplating a career with wildlife. It should also appeal to the weekend and average armchair conservationist who has probably often dreamt of what it would have been like had he chosen to become a dedicated full time field officer. The book will also help give an insight into what goes on behind the scenes for those visiting a game park for their very first time. It has been written in an easy to read format, divided into individual wildlife adventures based from the author's early beginnings as a Game Ranger at a remote outpost in Northern Zululand to finally becoming Warden of Game Capture. Some of these adventures are funny and some more serious but never routine or mundane however they were always rewarding and gratifying. Enjoy the read!