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Riding The Devils Highway
Tasmania might be known internationally as the home of the Hollywood cartoon character, Taz, based on the real-life Tasmanian devil, but the island state has another claim to fame. It is also the roadkill capital of the world, with one animal killed every two minutes on the bituman, among them the endangered Tasmanian devil. With so much roadkill on view, Tasmanians joke ironically that perhaps a glass-bottomed bus tour should be added to the tourist itinerary and Donald Knowler takes up this theme to compile a field guide to what lies flattened on the bitumen.
Riding the Devil’s Highway is the result of a 10-year odyssey to explore the Tasmanian roadkill phenomenon, which during this time has seen Tasmanian devils not only dying in increasing numbers on the highways, but afflicted by a fearful contagious cancer that has decimated numbers by 90 per cent in some areas. The devil is the largest surviving marsupial carnivore and the author argues if measures already proven by researchers to be practical and cost-effective are not taken to reduce the roadkill toll, the devil may well follow the same road to extinction as the Tasmanian tiger.
Donald Knowler writes the On the Wing column on birdwatching for the Mercury in Hobart, which allows him to combine the two great passions of his life, wildlife and journalism. He came to live in Tasmania with his Tasmanian born wife and son after a lengthy career as a reporter in his home country of Britain, and a period working as a correspondent in Africa and North America. Knowler is the author of two books, The Falconer of Central Park, published in the United States, and Dancing on the Edge of the World, a collection of essays based on his writing in the Mercury.
Riding the Devil’s Highway is the result of a 10-year odyssey to explore the Tasmanian roadkill phenomenon, which during this time has seen Tasmanian devils not only dying in increasing numbers on the highways, but afflicted by a fearful contagious cancer that has decimated numbers by 90 per cent in some areas. The devil is the largest surviving marsupial carnivore and the author argues if measures already proven by researchers to be practical and cost-effective are not taken to reduce the roadkill toll, the devil may well follow the same road to extinction as the Tasmanian tiger.
Donald Knowler writes the On the Wing column on birdwatching for the Mercury in Hobart, which allows him to combine the two great passions of his life, wildlife and journalism. He came to live in Tasmania with his Tasmanian born wife and son after a lengthy career as a reporter in his home country of Britain, and a period working as a correspondent in Africa and North America. Knowler is the author of two books, The Falconer of Central Park, published in the United States, and Dancing on the Edge of the World, a collection of essays based on his writing in the Mercury.
127 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 3, 2015
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January 5, 2017
This is a very disturbing book. I think for every 1 animal lover there must be 3 or 4 non-animal lovers and people going out of there way to hurt animals. Tasmania is the roadkill capital of the world and I see the dead animals first hand every day. Even in the residential areas there are always dead animals on the roads.
It is sad that there is pretty little done in Tasmania by the authorities to stop drivers killing animals, like enforcing a slower speed after sunset. Even the threatened Tasmanian Devils are being run down by careless drivers.
About the book: I'm not a fan of the author's writing style and I think a good editor could suggest some changes and make the book more readable. It started out great but then the author lost me and I had to force myself to finish the book. Its an important topic and the message must get out there. So I would encourage people to read this book.
It is sad that there is pretty little done in Tasmania by the authorities to stop drivers killing animals, like enforcing a slower speed after sunset. Even the threatened Tasmanian Devils are being run down by careless drivers.
About the book: I'm not a fan of the author's writing style and I think a good editor could suggest some changes and make the book more readable. It started out great but then the author lost me and I had to force myself to finish the book. Its an important topic and the message must get out there. So I would encourage people to read this book.
Displaying 1 of 1 review