John E. Cooper is a veterinary graduate who has kept animals and has been a keen student of natural history all his life. His professional interests include pathology, tropical veterinary medicine and work with wildlife and exotic species. He obtained the Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons for his work on avian diseases. He is the author or editor of books on birds, reptiles, invertebrates and other subjects. His wife, Margaret E. Cooper, who has contributed to this volume, is a lawyer with particular interests in animal and conservation law. They have spent nearly ten years living in Africa, including a period in Rwanda working with the mountain gorillas. Together, they are involved in teaching and conservation projects in various parts of the world.