Bound To Stay Bound

Bulletin for the Center... - 09/01/2013 The indefatigable pairing of author Montgomery and photographer Bishop now heads to southwestern Brazil, where biologist Pati Medici and her crew study the indigenous lowland tapir amid the wildness of the Patanal wetlands. Montgomery is always good at conveying how laborious biological work can be, and that challenge is a strong focus here as Medici and her crew sprint into thorn-encrusted bushes, sit motionless for hours while being attacked by mosquitoes, and philosophically accept the layer of ticks their clothing accrues, all while getting more near-misses and false successes than actual tapir viewings. The book therefore offers a clear-eyed picture of the challenges and the joys of pioneering fieldwork, and the long wait for the actual tapir encounters allows readers to understand the field crew’s excitement when they manage to tag and study some new animals. The book also discusses the PR problem that tapirs, a lesser-known animal, face, while providing a tribute to the environmentally minded youngsters in Brazil and elsewhere who’ve gotten involved with the tapir’s cause. The region itself is a strong focus as well, with many of Bishop’s photographs documenting other local fauna. With its dense text and small print, this is definitely aimed at older readers of the Scientists in the Field series, but there’s plenty of information to inform and inspire budding field scientists. The book includes maps, a list of books and websites for more information, and an index. DS - Copyright 2013 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

Booklist - 08/01/2013 *Starred Review* Where in the world are Montgomery and Bishop? The latest project of the award-winning dynamic duo takes the reader to Brazil’s Pantanal, the world’s largest wetlands, where field scientist Patricia Medici leads a talented team in search of the unsung tapir. Montgomery’s typically polished narrative and Bishop’s illuminating photography showcases the research group’s camaraderie, as well as their dedication to protecting tapirs by tagging and studying them in their natural habitats. Both the images and text highlight how the tight-knit team operates as a think tank when obstacles arise, such as the failure of a tranquilizing dart to adequately penetrate, and solutions must be found. Montgomery’s inclusion of the story of Benjamin, a British schoolboy who led a donation campaign, and Medici’s response—naming a tapir in his honor—serves to personalize the project and model what other young enthusiasts can do to help. This contribution to the Scientists in the Field series seamlessly blends eloquent text and vivid images to spotlight the gentle tapir and those field scientists whose lives are committed to conserve animal species for the sake of our environment and our humanity. - Copyright 2013 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 09/01/2013 Gr 5–10—In this addition to the series, readers join Pati Medici and her team in their quest to study tapirs in the world's largest wetland, the Pantanal Wetlands of Brazil. Although its appearance may lead some to suppose that the tapir falls somewhere near elephants or hippopotami in the family tree, this flexible-snouted, hoof-toed tropical creature is most closely related to rhinoceroses and horses. Medici has dubbed the tapir "the gardener of the forest" for its critical role in maintaining foliage by ingesting fruits and excreting the seeds elsewhere, but little else is known about this vanishing species. By observing and trapping the animals to outfit them with radio collars or microchips and collect samples including blood and ticks from infestations, Medici's team hopes to better understand their lifestyles to enhance conservation efforts. Although in-text pronunciation guides are included for some Portuguese names and select scientific terminology is explained, no glossary is provided, and many of the exotic birds discussed are not shown. Following each chapter are several pages of related information with text and photographs placed on top of a marbled background with shadows that can make the text difficult to read in some places. A list of several websites and YouTube videos is included, and the index differentiates between text and photographic references. Bishop's captivating photographs, paired with Montgomery's narrative, not only call attention to a lesser-known endangered species, but also expose readers to the working conditions, obstacles, and emotions experienced by passionate scientists in the field.—Meaghan Darling, Plainsboro Public Library, NJ - Copyright 2013 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.