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Mark Carwardine

Author of Last Chance to See

67+ Works 5,383 Members 99 Reviews

About the Author

Mark Carwardine is a zoologist, writer, radio and TV presenter, wildlife photographer, whale-watch Operator and an active and outspoken conservationist. His TV series include BBC's Last Chance to See with Stephen Fry, and for many years he presented the weekly half-hour programme Nature on BBC show more Radio 4. Mark writes a monthly column in BBC Wildlife magazine, and has written more than 50 books on wildlife and conservation, including the Handbook of Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises, Mark Carwardine's Guide to Whale Watching in Britain and Europe and Mark Carwardine's Guide to Whale Watching in North America. show less
Image credit: Mark Carwardine

Series

Works by Mark Carwardine

Last Chance to See (1990) 4,102 copies
Extreme Nature (2005) 96 copies
Wild Cats (1986) 52 copies
Birds in Focus (1990) 15 copies
Killer Whales (2001) — Author — 12 copies
The Animal Atlas (1988) 11 copies
On the Trail of the Whale (1994) 10 copies
Where animals live (1990) 9 copies
Shark (1848) 9 copies
Last Chance to See (Abridged Audio) (1991) — Author — 8 copies
The Book of Dolphins (1996) 7 copies
Night Animals (1986) 5 copies
Nibblers & Gnawers (1986) 4 copies
Last chance to see [interactive multimedia] (1996) — Author — 4 copies
Amazing animals (1992) 4 copies
Animals on the move (1987) 3 copies
Animals of the World (2000) 2 copies
Over leven in het wild (1987) 2 copies
Balene e delfini (1998) 1 copy
Tiere in der Kälte (1987) 1 copy

Associated Works

Museum of Life (2010) — Foreword — 9 copies
Indian Animals Daybook (1990) — Introduction — 6 copies

Tagged

animals (276) biology (152) birds (15) British (18) cetaceans (20) conservation (114) dolphins (39) Douglas Adams (64) ebook (28) ecology (130) endangered species (138) environment (137) environmentalism (44) essays (31) evolution (16) extinction (65) fiction (16) humor (272) mammals (24) memoir (35) natural history (106) nature (283) non-fiction (564) own (24) popular science (20) porpoises (19) read (81) reference (31) science (206) science fiction (14) short stories (14) signed (14) to-read (198) travel (318) travel writing (23) travelogue (26) unread (28) whales (47) wildlife (50) zoology (88)

Common Knowledge

Members

Reviews

You might wipe your eyes and wonder “Haven’t I seen this title before?”; and, yes, you might have because this is a follow-up on the original book “Last Chance to See” by the late-and-yet-immortalised Douglas (Noël) Adams (DNA) and Mark Carwardine.

I love the first book as it is testament to DNA’s manyfold interests and his engagement in several fields. Not to mention his trademark humour.
This time around, Mark Carwardine, British zoologist and conservationist, is joined on a series of trips by Stephen Fry who is a worthy successor for Adams albeit not quite as funny.

As in the original, the authors have done a marvellous job of blending witty humour with profound insights into the world of endangered species. Carwardine's expertise as a zoologist and conservationist, in conjunction with Fry's linguistic prowess, creates an enchanting and deeply engaging narrative throughout the book. The duo retraces the steps of the original journey undertaken by Adams and Carwardine about 20 years earlier (around 1990), lending the book an air of nostalgia that is both heart-warming and tantalising.

What struck me most about this book was how the authors managed to maintain the essence of Adams' classic while infusing it with their own unique perspectives. The book is replete with vivid descriptions of the many endangered species they encounter, as well as the oftentimes precarious situations the authors find themselves in. I found myself chuckling at many (but not all) their humorous anecdotes and, at the same time, feeling a sense of responsibility towards the fragile ecosystems they describe.

In addition and to its great benefit, the book is peppered with captivating photographs that brilliantly capture the essence of the species and habitats discussed - and sometimes of the authors themselves. Especially a series of portrait shots of “The many moods of Amazon adventurer and explorer Stephen Fry” was highly amusing.

A very memorable part for me was about the Yangtze River dolphin: The last known specimen of its kind died in 2002. In less than two decades, during the prime of responsibility of my own generation, while we, the world, were well aware of their looming extinction, we eradicated an entire species of highly intelligent animals. And many other species, including the first book’s Northern white rhino, are gone as well.

However, it is not all doom and gloom. Carwardine and Fry also share stories of hope and resilience, showcasing the tireless work of conservationists around the world. Through their storytelling, they inspire readers to take an active role in preservation efforts, urging us all to become stewards of the environment.

All in all, this book is a fitting tribute to the original work and a splendidly engaging read in its own right. Mark Carwardine and Stephen Fry have woven a tapestry of wit, wisdom, and wonder that leaves a lasting impression on the reader. It doesn’t quite reach its predecessor’s genius but is still a great read.

Four out of five stars.

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philantrop | 4 other reviews | Mar 16, 2023 |
Douglas Adams was, of course, the famous humorous science fiction writer. Last Chance to See is one of his lesser known works though really deserves much more recognition. Adams teams up with biologist Mark Carwardine to travel to different parts of the planet in search of endangered species - see find them before they go extinct.

This book was remarkably bittersweet. It is slyly funny, with Adams' characteristic ability to wring humor from circumstance, whether it was about snake anti-venom, trying to find condoms to create a makeshift underwater microphone, or the author's nervousness about China. I smiled and laughed reading his and Carwardine (and the revolving BBC audio tech who ended up on their trips)'s adventures. At the same time, the book was incredibly sad because I was keenly aware that since its publications, we have lost at least one of species that Adams and Carwardine looked for, the Baiji aka the Yangtze River Dolphin which, if not actually extinct, is at least functionally extinct. I fear that other species mentioned in the book may soon follow.

Still, Adams doesn't preach or lecture. He instead entertains and through that entertainment creates teachable moments. I am incredibly impressed that throughout the book, he never lapsed into soapboxing about the need to protect any of the species, but instead lays out the uphill battle that those working on those species face and that these handful of species mentioned are just the tip of the iceberg.

A very short but powerful book that made me think Adams was wasted on science fiction, and that he should have really done more science writing or travelogues. Here is where he really shines.
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1 vote
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wisemetis | 82 other reviews | Sep 15, 2022 |
You’re out walking and spot a cardboard box someone house-moving has left outside their front gate: “Free books. Please help yourself.” That’s how I got this one.
   Quite a book to get for free too; as you’d expect from this publisher, Dorling Kindersley, the production is immaculate—illustrations, layout and all-round design wonderful. It’s actually a field-guide for identification, but simply reading my way through it I’ve learned much about all the various groups of cetaceans, which are these: right whales, rorqual whales, sperm whales, beaked whales, blackfish, dolphins (including river dolphins) and porpoises—seventy-nine species in total. Lovely book.… (more)
 
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justlurking | 5 other reviews | May 31, 2022 |
Douglas Adams' inimitable style shines through in a book that's engaging, funny, yet ultimately depressing.

It's interesting because of the exotic locales, the zany characters, and the situations that Adams finds himself in. Even more so, it's the way Adams perceives them that steals the show. His trademark humor shines through every page (well, page turn in my case) that I read.

The animals were easily the stars of the show. Their situations are dire, more so now than ever before. He draws on his experience to educate and offer insight into their plights and the ways we can help them. And it's for that reason the book is depressing: the world is going to hell, and we are to blame for it. :(… (more)
 
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bdgamer | 82 other reviews | Sep 10, 2021 |

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Works
67
Also by
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Members
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Popularity
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Rating
4.2
Reviews
99
ISBNs
201
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