The Vanishing: Chronicling India’s Wildlife Crisis

by Prerna Singh Bindra

Can a populous country like India 'afford' to protect wildlife? Is there space for wildlife in a land-scarce, densely populated country, and can wild animals and people coexist, or is the relationship inevitably confrontational? Is conservation and protecting the flora and fauna a hindrance to the growth agenda? Is development inimical to ecological security? The Vanishing explores such burning issues that confront wildlife conservation today.

Genres: Nonfiction, India, Nature, Wildlife, Environment, Conservation

326 pages, Hardcover

First published June 15, 2017

About the author

Prerna Singh Bindra has been at the forefront of the battle to conserve India’s wildlife for over a decade. She served as a member of the National Board for Wildlife and its core standing committee (2010–13), and on Uttarakhand’s State Board for Wildlife. Prerna’s primary focus is protecting wildlife habitats and critically endangered species. She is guest faculty for a module for popular writing at the National Centre for Biological Sciences. She is a widely published author with over 1500 pieces on nature and wildlife. She has authored The King and I: Travels in Tigerland and edited Voices in the Wilderness: Contemporary Wildlife Writing. Her book for children, When I Grow Up I Want to Be a Tiger, is a recent release. Prerna lives in Gurgaon but her heart, she says, resides in the forest.

Reviews

[Vaidya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disturbing account of how we are going about destroying our forests, rivers, and our environment. Unlike generic terms like habitat loss and degradation, Bindra looks more at policy and laws, and how they are either being flouted or modified to allow easier 'clearance' for industries to 'do business'.

I expected a depressing read. It was well beyond that. It definitely is a must read, but sadly, the only people who'll read this are those who already care. Our positions are too far entrenched.

[Lalit Mohan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written and comprehensive account of our last stand and where we stand in this war to safeguard the last green spaces of our home . full of stories from the wild and fights in the conference rooms the latter of which unfortunately is the place where the most decisive blows are delivered . The story of the sparrows and the fans really hit home as it made it way too real - there might have been some ninjas cutting onions as well in the room when I was reading that chapter .An uncomfortable truth but truth it is ; would recommend not binge reading if you are prone to sentimentality .Would like to see a follow-up book which outlines positive inroads and details of how one can help . Highly recommended read . 4 Stars because I personally felt the balance tilted towards what we have lost and not what we can do .

[Ram Vasudeva · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently picked up this book wondering what to expect, whether the storyline is going to be a grim face of India's (mis) management of its natural history but to my wonder it exceeded every aspect of my expectation. It is a must read. This is my first experience of reading Prerna Singh Bindra and I feel proud to have bought this book and will recommend it highly. Being a Biologist, I must say there were several amazing little (true) stories and the heroes who wilfully protect our resources (forests, coastline etc..). It makes you want to do something for the degrading nature of our system towards flora and fauna alike. Prerna hits the nail on the head in her last and penultimate chapters on what we can do to bring us out of this dire situation, Climate change is real and is staring at our faces. A highly recommended book for everyone. Gripping and Beautifully written.

[Fatima · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Vanishing is a brave and unbiased book on degrading condition of wildlife in India. It provides an insider account of how issues related to wildlife conservations are handled with utter carelessness in India by various governmental authorities. The book is researched thoroughly, providing painstaking data. We need more such books in Indian Wildlife because I believe in the long run, it is the citizens of India who need to be educated and informed about the wildlife and its current condition, and organise people to put small but meaningful conservation efforts. All in all, an engaging read and I recommend it to anyone who even remotely cares about wildlife and Nature.

[Pranky reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a child we love to read and hear story about animals but as we grow slowly we become so indifferent to their presence in our surroundings. The folklores that we heard as a child remains as a memory, very soon some birds and animals that we see will become a part of our memories because they will vanish from our surroundings.
This book tells the raw truth that the nature is witnessing, people who are conserving the nature as their first priority.
Thanks to @prernasinghbindra
For giving so much information about India's existing and endangered animals.
#prernasinghbindra #amustread #thevanishing @penguinindia #viking #environment

[Sadiq Kazi · Rating 4 out of 5]

An outstanding primer on the sprawl of humans eating away into the natural habitats in India for many endangered species, from a perspective of a conservationist who has been on the sidelines of many a policy decisions pertaining to wildlife conservation in the last decade. A wake up call for Indians - especially those who believe economic growth is a solution to everything that afflicts us as a nation.

[Gopal MS · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is not a happy story but it is something that every one of us in India should read. While it’s the brutalities of the conflict between us and the natural world that will horrify you, on the other, it is diversity, beauty and details about our natural wonders from across the subcontinent that makes this book wonderful. I wished that the book had some detailed maps.

[Sai Sanjeev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read for not just nature lovers.
The book takes time , one chapter at a time.
First two chapters primarily consists of numerous facts ,statistics might be little too much to imbibe but that's exactly she is trying to tell, to instill the urgency for conservations.

[Divya K · Rating 5 out of 5]

A page turner, this book will make you angry but also spur you into action. A concise modern history of environmental conservation in India, and the political hurdles to natural resource management.

[Anoop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read for every citizen of the World

[Suhas Cadambi · Rating 4 out of 5]

What makes The Vanishing different, or complementary, to the dozens of other books which highlight the destruction plaguing our forests and wildlife, is the insider perspective it provides. Bindra’s recollections of her time on India’s National Board for Wildlife from 2010-13, bring out the political ground realities of wildlife conversation, raising a number of important questions in the process. Do wildlife boards exist to regulate (development in and around forest land), or to expedite clearances? To what extent do governments assess ecological impact for the various projects carried out in their push for development? Are population numbers alone enough to tell us about the overall health of a species?

On getting past the sometimes clunky editing, occasional rambling, and the realisation that this is no effortless read, there’s a lot of gyaan (the necessary kind) on offer here. Bindra’s admirable passion for her chosen field drives the book forward, even as the tone is mostly one of anguish and frustration. This shines through notably in her accounts of personal wild encounters - her description of a male gharial rallying in protection of his babies, in the National Chambal sanctuary, is quite magical. These are however occasional moments of respite in a book more concerned with urging us to fight the good fight, or face up to the very real consequences of not doing so. Gloomy stuff, but important for that very reason. Do read.

[Riya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very captivating. The truth has been told.

Being an environmental engineer, I know how system works and it's compromises in the name of development. I have been to the olive ridley turtle festival and I have seen small baby turtles hatching and moving towards the sea. A perfect example of educating the villagers and how they can earn money by such initiatives.


It's definitely a must read book. Don't hurry while reading, read slowly and let the information seep into you for a better world.

[Yashendu Joshi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading the book. It was a little depressing to read the wildlife crisis that India is going through and how frivolous politicians are towards this. I really liked the way author has started each chapter, with a story based on previous experience.