"High on the Imamgarh battlements, Jalal-ud-Din, Mughal Commander of Samana Fort, was hauled by Khalsa soldiers to the massive cannon and lashed to its muzzle. His insolent glare dissolved into dread at the order ‘Fire!’ His eyes dilated – white pupils starkly visible for an instant. Then he was blown to smithereens. This was the first assault against the tyranny of foreign invaders in over five centuries. As the cannons blew the condemned criminals to oblivion, their roar thundered in Wazir Khan’s council chamber and reverberated thoughout Muzzam’s Mughal Empire. Several years earlier, Wazir Khan, the Mughal Governor of Sirhind, had snared and then brutally executed Guru Govind Singh’s two young sons, sending a shock-wave of revulsion that ignited a raging inferno in the Punjab. The Guru had commanded Banda Bahadur to liberate the Punjab from the Mughals’ tyrannical yoke. Banda set out from Nanded with only twenty-five soldiers, but as he entered Punjab, thousands thronged to rally the Nishan Sahib. Banda Bahadur hurled these unstrained Punjabi volunteers against Wazir Khan’s powerful army. Among them was Shamsheer, a Sikh peasant-warrior, who too threw himself whole-heartedly into the fierce struggle for freedom; going on to become a celebrated Cavalry Commander of the Khalsa Army. Amidst the strife and turmoil Shamsheer and a young Muslim nobleman from Sirhind fell deeply, helplessly in love. Would he succeed in winning her hand? Would Banda Bahadur’s raw, ill-equipped sparrows be able to hunt down the mighty Mughal hawk? ‘The Hawk Hunters’ tells their story in this fast-paced, action-packed saga of great courage, nobility and supreme sacrifice. Above all, it is a celebration of the triumph of the human spirit over ruthless brutality and personal tragedy. "

Illustrated with colour photographs, this book reveals how the hawk is learning to adapt to its rapidly changing environment.

Mink are famous worldwide for their luxurious coat of fur, and yet most people know very little about them beyond their use as clothing. Even trappers, naturalists, and fur farmers, those who should know mink best, typically know only one side of the mink... their bad side. Those who do "know mink" will tell you how extremely aggressive and blood thirsty the mink is, and truth be told, they aren't that far off. But there is a different side to mink that very few have seen. This book not only tells how the art of Minkenry began, but more importantly, it is a step by step guide to those wanting to train a hunting mink. In this book I share how to tame, train, and properly care for this very intense little predator, the North American mink. Though still in its infancy, the sport of minkenry has been spreading thanks to the information sharing power of the Internet. First started in the western state of Utah, there are now minkeners springing up across the United States, and even as far away as the UK, Germany, France, and other European countries! As there is a growing need for a "how to" manual on the art of minkenry, this book was written specifically to fill that need. Minkenry is a very challenging sport, and is definitely not for everyone! Though highly intelligent, and surprisingly affectionate, mink are also very high-strung and stubborn creatures. They typically use their intelligence to work against you, far more than they do to work with you. Though not an adventure for the faint of heart; falconers, hunters, trappers, and other sportsmen worldwide, are being drawn to the art of minkenry with a pioneer's spirit. They have the desire to become part of something that has never been done before! If you yearn to experience the challenge of hunting with an aggressive, high strung, truly wild animal; then join us and become one of the pioneers in the new sport of minkenry!

For many hundreds of years Kazakh nomads have been grazing their livestock near the Altai Mountains in western Mongolia. The Altai Kazakhs are unique in their tradition of using golden eagles to hunt on horseback. The lifestyle of these hunters, known in Kazakh as burtkitshis, is changing rapidly, and over the last few years the award-winning photographer Palani Mohan has spent time with these men and their families, documenting a culture under threat. The special bond between a hunter and his eagle begins when the hunter takes an eagle pup from a nest high on the rock face. The pups are usually about four years old (a golden eagle can live to 30 years of age). It's important that the pup has learned to hunt and is not still dependent on her mother; but neither can she be too old nor experienced, or she will not learn to live with humans. The hunters take only female pups from the nest, as females are larger and more powerful and aggressive than the males. Adult female golden eagles can have a wingspan of up to 9 feet, and weigh over 15 pounds. The eagle pup gradually learns to accept food from the hunter, and once trust has been established, the hunter begins to train the bird. The hunters describe the eagle as part of their family. The eagle takes pride of place in the home most of the time except during the day in the summer months or the warmest part of the day in the winter months. While all the men in the family handle the eagle, only the man who took her from the nest hunts with her. Hunting takes place in winter, when temperatures can plummet to minus 40 degrees Farenheit. The birds are carried in swaddling, which the hunters claim keeps them both warm and calm. The strong bond between hunter and eagle is strengthened by the amount of time they spend together. Hunting trips can last many days, as the hunter and eagle trek up to a mountain ridge to obtain a good view across the landscape. Once the prey - usually a fox - is spotted, the hunter charges towards it to flush it into the open, then releases the eagle to make the kill. Hunters traditionally wear fur coats made from the skins of the prey their eagle has caught. The relationship between hunter and eagle typically lasts six to eight years, then the eagle is released back into the wild to breed. One hunter tells Mohan: 'You love them as your own, even when you set them free at the end.' In his book, which comprises an introductory essay and 90 dramatic duotone images, Mohan explains how the burkitshis are slowing dying out. Rather than endure the brutal winters, their children choose to move to the capital, Ulan Bator, for a better way of life. There are also fewer golden eagles in the Altai Mountains. Although the 'Golden Eagle Festival' takes place every October to showcase the ancient art of hunting with eagles, attracting tourists from across the world, there are only between 50 and 60 'true' hunters left. This book is therefore a timely, important record of these proud men and their magnificent eagles in a remote, unforgiving part of the planet.

Unveil the enchanting world of Jataka tales, ancient folklore from India, in this collection retold by Ellen C. Babbitt. Witness the consequences of disobedience in 'Beauty and Brownie', the rise of a humble bowman in 'The Brave Little Bowman', and the triumph of friendship in 'The Elephant and the Dog'. Explore tales of bravery, cunning, and sacrifice, as characters like the foolhardy wolf, the penny-wise monkey, and the wise goat navigate their journeys. Let these timeless stories ignite your imagination and impart timeless wisdom through their timeless charm.

Colonel Michael Parson and his friend Sophia Gold fly relief supplies into Somalia despite the threats of an al-Shabaab leader to attack all aid missions.