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liberrydude's review against another edition
3.0
Part adventure trek and part lamentation on the avarice of man. William duBuys relates his three week slog through the Annamite Mountains of Laos with a biologist, Bill Robichaud, and Laotian scientists and guides. Arduous trekking through jungle and steep mountains in search of a metaphorical unicorn, the saola- an antelope like goat ungulate. They are very rare and when caught do not live long in captivity. It is feared they will not survive the organized criminal syndicates who will poach them for their dual horns. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has fostered an insatiable demand for animal parts. Rarely are tigers and elephants seen and this is in a protected area. Many of the local people collude with the poachers who are mostly Vietnamese. This can be discerned through new found consumerism in remote villages that don’t even have roads. Nothing is safe from the poachers’ indiscriminate use of snares.
DeBuys’ description of finding animals along a trail of death is heartbreaking and will fill you with anger. It’s not even selective targeting. Just killing everything that moves. He has many moments of zen and also anxiety in the forest as he candidly relates the cultural and leadership challenges in a remote environment that is beautiful, uncomfortable, and potentially dangerous. Bomb craters from America’s secret war in Laos are also in evidence but there’s never any anxiety expressed over unexploded ordnance. The author took this physically arduous trip in his early sixties and that’s quite a feat too. Lions, tigers, and leeches. Oh my.
DeBuys’ description of finding animals along a trail of death is heartbreaking and will fill you with anger. It’s not even selective targeting. Just killing everything that moves. He has many moments of zen and also anxiety in the forest as he candidly relates the cultural and leadership challenges in a remote environment that is beautiful, uncomfortable, and potentially dangerous. Bomb craters from America’s secret war in Laos are also in evidence but there’s never any anxiety expressed over unexploded ordnance. The author took this physically arduous trip in his early sixties and that’s quite a feat too. Lions, tigers, and leeches. Oh my.
happyglowlucky's review against another edition
5.0
To me, this read like a travelogue, which is wonderful. I have always enjoyed that kind of "arm-chair travel". I love the way that books can take you to other countries. This book does that, indeed. I think it is a wonderful combination of travelogue, and the quest for the unicorn. Like many girls, when I was a kid, I loved unicorns! How wonderful it was to read a book that brought it up to the adult level...turns out unicorns aren't just for kids. :-) Nice amount of detail, well-written, a very good read.
slferg's review against another edition
5.0
A good look at the efforts to find and preserve rare species in the third world - where there is little understanding of the rarity of some of the animals in their lands. Also, the conditions under scientists work. There is a real struggle. And how to help and what to do are a real problem that desperately needs solving.
crassusbulkdetonator's review against another edition
4.0
Well, at first I was looking for the other last unicorn, but I downloaded the audiobook for this by mistake. About 5 hours into it I was thinking to myself "when does the fantasy stuff start?".
Good book tho
Good book tho
lmblanchard's review against another edition
5.0
Let's get this right out of the way: this is not to be confused with Peter S. Beagle's "Last Unicorn" (nor the classic animated film inspired by it). Nor is this about actual living unicorns. Though it is, in a way.
If you're someone who is interested in animal or bio conservation efforts, I think this is important to read. More than anything, though, this is a totally enthralling adventure story of the kind you didn't think really happened anymore. It was exciting and informative and bolstering.
If you're someone who is interested in animal or bio conservation efforts, I think this is important to read. More than anything, though, this is a totally enthralling adventure story of the kind you didn't think really happened anymore. It was exciting and informative and bolstering.
floatsomejetsome's review against another edition
4.0
Fantastic read… I learned quite a bit about conservation & Laos, without losing the narrative of an excellent travel adventure narrative.
wildjessturing's review
3.0
The stuff about the trek is good and you learn some interesting science about the animals and the area the author goes in Laos but quite slow to start and the author comes off a bit preachy and dramatic when I really just wanted to read about a research expedition
oddandbookish's review against another edition
4.0
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
This is not a book I would typically read but it definitely surprised me. I enjoyed learning about the mystic and majestic animal, the saola. Prior to reading this book, I had never heard of a saola. They really are like unicorns. The author did a wonderful job detailing the trip he took as well as providing background information. This book is a very informative and engaging read.
This is not a book I would typically read but it definitely surprised me. I enjoyed learning about the mystic and majestic animal, the saola. Prior to reading this book, I had never heard of a saola. They really are like unicorns. The author did a wonderful job detailing the trip he took as well as providing background information. This book is a very informative and engaging read.
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