Aristotle characterized the elephant as €œthe beast which passeth all others in wit and mind€ and the animal has long figured in cultural artifacts, even on continents it has never inhabited. Now Elephant provides an engaging look at the elephant€s long legacy.
The image of the elephant can be found throughout world cultures as a symbol of intelligence, strength, and loyalty. Wylie draws on a rich array of examples to document that symbolic power, ranging from symbols of the Hindu god of wisdom, Ganesh, to the beloved children€s works Dumbo and Babar the Elephant.
Turning to the elephant€s biological history, Wylie describes the three remaining species€"the African Bush Elephant, African Forest Elephant, and the Asian Elephant€"and the controversial efforts for elephant conservation. With ivory poaching and human encroachment into the animal€s natural habitats, Wylie argues that we face a uniquely poignant conservation crisis in which elephants and humans both unsustainably consume limited natural resources.
A compelling new entry in the Animal series, Elephant will be necessary for every animal lover€s bookshelf.
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