Since antiquity, big mammals have inspired fear as well as fantasy among humans. Not only do megafauna pervade the domains of religion, art, literature, and folklore, it is also now widely acknowledged that they can serve as important, if not always adequate, indices of environmental quality. In this book, Shibani Bose looks into eras bygone in order to chronicle the journeys of three mega mammals, the rhinoceros, elephant, and tiger, across millennia in early north India. Carefully sifting through archaeological evidence and literary records in Sanskrit, Pali, Prakrit, and classical Western accounts, Bose documents the presence of these big mammals in diverse cultural contexts, from hunter-gatherer societies to the first urban civilization of India and beyond. This work aims to reconstruct human interactions with these mega species through time while trying to understand the larger ecology of ancient India. This book is especially well-timed as the conservation of our megafaunal heritage is a major concern for biologists, ecologists, and conservationists. It underlines the need to historicize human interactions with these mega mammals with the contention that awareness regarding their past is critical for their future.

The rhinoceros is an iconic animal. Three species once inhabited South Asia, two of which disappeared over a century ago. This survey aims to reconstruct the historical distribution of these large mammals resulting in new maps showing the extent of their occurrences. Thousands of sources varied in time and nature are used to study the interactions between man and rhinoceros. The text is supported by over 700 illustrations and 38 maps showing the importance of the rhinoceros in the scientific and cultural fabric of Asia and beyond.

This book evaluates the evidence for indirect connections between the Aegean and the Indus extending back to the third and fourth millennia BCE, particularly commodities such as tin and lapis lazuli, and discusses recently discovered objects, new methods of materials analysis techniques and topics, as well as iconographic investigation.

- This interdisciplinary volume traces and records the history of the One-horned Rhinoceros from prehistoric times to the present- Through rock carvings and ancient manuscripts, Mughal hunting scenes and Portuguese quilts, British illustrations and photographs of shikar, we get glimpses of India's unicorn- The Greater One-horned Rhinoceros is endemic to the Indian subcontinent and it is entirely up to India, Nepal and possibly Bhutan to ensure that this species survives for all time- While the rhino at present enjoys a 'return' of sorts in its remaining strongholds, it is hoped that this book will generate awareness among a wider audience of the need for continuing and proactive protection of the animal and its habitatIndia is blessed with a unique variety of fauna, not to mention other forms of life. If one were to look at its mega fauna alone, the country boasts of lion, tiger, leopard, elephant, bison, wild buffalo and rhinoceros - more specifically the Greater One-horned Rhinoceros, India's unicorn. Two books have preceded this one in The Story series: one on Asia's lions and the other on Asia's elephants. The Story of India's Unicorn, written by three multidisciplinary experts in the fields of natural history, art history and archaeology, is an attempt at recording the history of the animal from prehistoric times to the present, as was done in the other two books. Lucidly written and aptly illustrated, it will be of interest to the historian, the art historian, the wildlife enthusiast and the general reader. The natural habitats of all species of fauna and flora are under threat as a result of the present and ever-increasing pressure of the growing human population which stands today at 1.32 billion in India. The Greater One-horned Rhinoceros is endemic to the Indian subcontinent and it is entirely up to India, Nepal and possibly Bhutan to ensure that this species survives for all time. While the rhino at present enjoys a 'return' of sorts in its remaining strongholds, it is hoped that this book will generate awareness among a wider audience of the need for continuing and proactive protection of the animal and its habitat.

Few places have been as influential as the Indian subcontinent in shaping the course of life on Earth. Yet its evolution has remained largely unchronicled. Indica: A Deep Natural History of the Indian Subcontinent fills this gap. From the oldest rocks, formed three billion years ago in Karnataka, to the arrival of our ancestors 50,000 years ago on the banks of the Indus, the author meticulously sifts through wide-ranging scientific disciplines and through the layers of earth to tell us the story of India, filled with a variety of fierce reptiles, fantastic dinosaurs, gargantuan mammals and amazing plants. Beautifully produced in full colour, with a rare collection of images, illustrations and maps, Indica is full of fascinating, lesser-known facts. It shows us how every piece of rock and inch of soil is a virtual museum, and how, over billions of years, millions of spectacular creatures have reproduced, walked and lived over and under it.

To help us understand what happened during the Ice Age, Peter Ward takes us on a tour of other mass extinctions through earth's history. He presents a compelling account of the great comet crash that killed off the dinosaurs, and describes other extinctions that were even more extensive. In so doing, he introduces us to a profound paradigm shift now taking place in paleontology: rather than arising from the gradual workings of everyday forces, all mass extinctions are due to unique, catastrophic events. Written with an irresistible combination of passion and expertise, The Call of Distant Mammoths is an engaging exploration of the history of life and the importance of humanity as an evolutionary force. "Carefully argued...an intelligent and compelling book."-THE OLYMPIAN, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON "Ward deftly summarizes a large body of scientific literature, simplifying complex ideas for the general reader without condescension."-PUBLISHERS WEEKLY "Did the overkill really happen?...Peter Ward deftly summarizes the arguments...Ward tells (the story) well."-THE NEW SCIENTIST