The Wildlife Detectives: How Forensic Scientists Fight Crimes Against Nature

by Donna M. Jackson

Overview

Slaughtering elephants for their ivory; shooting bears for their gall bladders; capturing sea turtles for soup. In the name of vanity, fashion, and greed, man stalks and kills wild animals — and gets away with it, even when it is clearly against the law. But now scientists have a way to catch and convict poachers. In a laboratory in Ashland, Oregon, they analyze clues to link suspects to crimes. In words and pictures, this book tells a poignant story and reveals how science can indeed save the day.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780618196838
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	03/25/2002
Series:	Scientists in the Field Series
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	48
Sales rank:	458,757
Product dimensions:	11.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.15(d)
Lexile:	1120L (what's this?)
Age Range:	10 - 12 Years

About the Author

Donna M. Jackson is an award-winning author of nonfiction books for children and holds a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Her works include the critically acclaimed Elephant Scientists, Bone Detectives, Bug Scientists, and Wildlife Detectives—all honored by the NSTA/CBC’s Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children award; ER Vets, an Orbis Pictus and ASPCA Henry Bergh honor book; and Extreme Scientists, named a Smithsonian Notable Book for Children, 2009.  When she’s not writing about scientists in the field, Donna enjoys reading, skiing, gardening, hiking in the mountains, and spending time with her family. She lives in Colorado. Learn more about Donna at her website: http://www.donnamjackson.net.

Editorial Reviews

Gr 4-7-A fascinating look at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory where scientists work to solve crimes, such as poaching. The book focuses on a specific incident-the shooting of a bull elk in Yellowstone National Park-and follows the case step-by-step. Interspersed with the story about this killing are "Wild Files" that give further information about the lab, the scientists, and related topics such as endangered wildlife protection laws. These inserts, alternating with two-page spreads of text, contain lots of intriguing information but their placement is a drawback. Although the main story is compelling, its continuity is continuously broken. Otherwise, this is an enjoyable, informative volume with well-placed, clear photos that add interest. Offer it to fans of the author's The Bone Detectives (Little, Brown, 1996) and nature enthusiasts, who will appreciate this foray into an intriguing and little-known area of wildlife conservation work.-Arwen Marshall, formerly at New York Public Library Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|

School Library Journal

Donna Jackson (The Bone Detectives, 1996) creates a riveting and thorough account of dedicated people banding together with the help of science and the law to catch an elk poacher. It begins the day before the elk, Charger, is shot in Yellowstone Park and takes the reader through almost two years of detective work more riveting then any television police drama. Jackson focuses on the almost miraculous feats of scientists in the only animal forensic lab in the world as they piece together clues, examining, for example, DNA samples and bullet casings. Those readers clamoring for justice will find satisfaction in the apprehension of the poacher who is punished with jail time and fines. Jackson does not skip lightly around the subject, so the story is often painful and jarring. The treatment is appropriate for children over ten, effectively eliciting an emotional reaction that is educational as well as motivational. Interspersed throughout the story are pages filled with facts about the law, science, poaching, and endangered species. Stunning color photographs from a renowned team graphically illustrate the pages, but do not overwhelm the text. The effect is that of a scrapbook of information with photos that enrich a real-life animal detective story. (ways to help, list of forensic terms) (Nonfiction. 8-10)

Kirkus Reviews