Animal Eco-Warriors

Reviews

View the media release for Animal Eco-Warriors (PDF)

"Magnificent: fascinating and with deep accuracy and originality rarely found in non-fiction for young people. My husband - not young except at heart - refused to let me have it until he'd finished it. This will be irresistible for anyone who loves animals or the intricate interrelations between humans and the natural world."
Jackie French

"I liked how the book was presented, with small, easy-to­-read chapters and short paragraphs. The 'Want to know more?' sections are very instructive. What really caught my eye were the clear photographs... I already want to be involved with nature as a marine biologist or a paleontologist when I grow up, but for kids who don't understand the importance of nature and what we can do to protect it, this book is a good place to start."
4 out of 5 stars
Daniel Ward, age 10, Wildlife Australia, Spring 2017

"I can attest to this being an excellent book for animal-crazed children (having once been one myself). Even now, as the supposedly grown-up version of that child, I found this fun to read... Jargon that younger readers aren't likely to have come across before is highlighted, with a glossary at the back of the book for reference, which makes it even more accessible. Added to the break-out boxes with more information about particular environmental issues, Animal Eco-Warriors would also be a great asset for teachers and other educators.
"An all-around excellent book for the smaller conservationists in your household."
Sarah-Jane O'Conner, Sciblogs (Scibooks) blog, 8/6/2017

"This is a very appealing book, fun to read, with lots of photos of animals at work against pests. Nic Gill should be commended for writing something for children that, by focusing on beagles and other pets, raises awareness about biosecurity in an enjoyable way."
Tim Low, Invasive Species Council blog, 14/7/2017

"Animal Eco-Warriors is a book that can be read for enjoyment or for serious research. Children who love animals or those concerned about the future of our planet will find this an engaging text that can be read cover-to-cover or dipped into according to interest. It would be a valuable addition to any home or school library and is suitable for readers in the upper primary to lower secondary levels."
John Nolan, CBCA Reading Time, 12/7/2017

"it treads a good line between sharing fun pictures and anecdotes, and some seriously interesting information... No matter your age, there’s plenty to learn and be entertained by."
Alex Mullarky, Wild Melbourne (blog), 3/6/17

"Animal loving kids will get a big kick out of this book."
Grass Roots magazine 241, June-July 2017

"Non-fiction books often get by passed but this is one that will really inspire – so add it to your library or home book shelf and learn about how valuable these animals really are!"
Vanessa Rendall, Educate.Empower blog, 9/5/18

"The depth of content in this book is impressive and I enjoyed reading it more than I had expected... Author Nic Gill is able to enthusiastically explain aspects of behavioural conditioning and the scientific imperatives behind each very human animal story, while maintaining readability, and without patronizing the reader."
David Manning, Australian Veterinary Journal 96(1-2), Jan/Feb 2018

"In these short and entertaining stories readers learn about a range of environmental issues and the innovative ways that scientists are using animals to help in addressing them. Overall, it’s a captivating and inspiring little book."
Steve Page, Western Australian Naturalists' Club blog, 27 August 2017

Details

Paperback | June 2017 | $ 24.95
ISBN: 9781486306213 | 144 pages | 234 x 153 mm
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Colour photographs

ePDF | June 2017
ISBN: 9781486306220
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Available from eRetailers

ePUB | June 2017
ISBN: 9781486306237
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Available from eRetailers

Features

• Profiles charismatic animals at work and addresses potentially daunting environmental issues in a positive way
• Fills a gap in the curriculum
• Foreword written by renowned children’s author Jackie French
• Visit the author's website for more information

Contents

Introduction

Section 1: Alert but not alarmed – Border patrol and sentinel animals, working to keep out pests and diseases
1. Noses on legs – On the beat with the cheeky quarantine beagles of Hobart Airport
2. The ants go marching – Welsh spaniel Rhys Jones sniffs out Argentine ants in New Zealand’s Treasured Islands
3. Eternally vigilant – Tama the terrier works to keep Antarctica and its islands rodent free

Section 2: Trackers and scouts – animals who sniff out trouble
4. Three noses are better than one – the detection dog team working to track down foxes on Phillip Island
5. Cat dog! Clay the terrier and the invisible cat of Tasman Island
6. Botanist puppies of the Mount Kosciusko National Park – going where no Australian detection dog has gone before!
7. Blossom: hero-rat – healing landscapes scarred by landmines

Section 3: Eating the enemy – animals who make a meal out of environmental problems
8. When greed is good – Eco Goats use their super-stomachs to make a meal of environmental weeds
9. An acquired taste – how understanding cow cultures can help protect rangeland ecosystems
10. Putting back the pieces – in welcoming sugar gliders back to the land, a Bega farmer is also protecting his trees and pastures
11. Micro-wasps vs. yellow crazy ants – can these tiny insects save an entire island ecosystem from collapse?

Section 4: To serve and protect – animal eco-warriors standing up for native animals and ecosystems
12. Maya, koala habitat detection dog – proving the science of detection dog work, one poo at a time!
13. Rein – threatened species detection dog, and the rarest kiwis of them all
14. Guardian dogs to the rescue! – How some big fluffy white dogs are saving the small fluffy penguins of Middle Island

Section 5: Researchers, educators, diplomats and activists – animals working to inform and inspire humanity in the quest to save our shared environments
15. Beneath the ice – Elephant seals go deep to help scientists track our changing climate
16. The Internet of Stings – An international network of cyborg bees, helping scientists decode environmental change
17. Sirocco the Kakapo, V.I.P. – Very Important Parrot, social media superstar and ambassador for his species

Glossary
View the full table of contents.

Authors

Nic Gill grew up in Tasmania, on a small farm with a large number of animals. Nic lives in Hobart with her three-legged cat, a family of ring-tailed possums, some Pekin frizzle bantams, countless native birds, and her human partner, James. When she’s not writing books, she's helping people to care for their local natural environments. She was bitten by an impressive array of animals while researching this book.

Nic Gill strongly believes that we have to work together today to build the world we’d like to live in tomorrow. Five per cent of her proceeds from this book will go directly to supporting animal eco-warrior projects.

Supplementary Material

We regret that some text was omitted from page 71 of Animal Eco-Warriors. The corrected page is available as a pdf download.

Animal Eco-Warriors Pages 71-72

For Teachers

We have created these Teacher Notes as a free PDF download to support the use of this book in the classroom.

Teacher Notes (1.79 MB)

Extra

Download this printable poster (PDF) for use in your classroom, library, bookshop or home.

Animal Eco-Warriors Poster A2 (912.86 KB)