African Wildlife & Environment Issue 85

GOOD READS

Cape Vulture (Photograph: John Wesson)

Mammals Most of the 91 species found in the fynbos are small, nocturnal, secretive and seldom seen. There are 27 rodents, 18 carnivores, 13 bats and the same number of hoofed mammal species. Close to 20% of the mammal species are of ‘conservation concern’. Several large mammals were historically eradicated from the region in the face of agriculture, although some of them have been reintroduced. This excellent field guide is the ideal book for the visitor to the Fynbos Biome to carry in order to identify the main faunal species that occur there, without having to buy specialist handbooks on the frogs, reptiles, birds and mammals of the region. A very good publication, a great credit to its authors, photographers and publishers, and another wonderful addition to the admirable collection of field guides for the southern part of the continent.

Fleet Felines

Mills, Gus and Margie (2022). Fast Cats on Red Sands . Soft cover, 15 x 23 cm 376 pp, illustrated with colour photographs throughout ISBN 978 0-62099- 707-2. Crocuta Publishers, Sonpark, South Africa. RRP: R300 . For orders and delivery costs contact: margsmills@gmail.com The subtitle reads “The lives of Kalahari Cheetahs and their researchers”,

the latter being Dr MGL (Gus) Mills and his wife and soulmate of 50 years, Margie. Gus is one of the world’s leading experts on carnivores and it has been my privilege to have been associated with him for many years through the Endangered Wildlife Trust. In 1972 he took his newly-wed bride to live in the Kalahari to study Brown Hyaenas. Gus is one of those fortunate biologists who found a partner who was willing to share the trials, tribulations and hardships of living in remote

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