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Last Chance to See: In the Footsteps of Douglas Adams
Join Britain's best-loved wit and raconteur, Stephen Fry, as he follows in his great friend Douglas Adams' footsteps with zoologist Mark Carwardine, in search of some of the rarest and most threatened animals on Earth. In the 1980s celebrated writer Douglas Adams teamed up with zoologist Mark Carwardine and together they embarked on a groundbreaking expedition, travelling the globe in search of the world's endangered animals. Twenty years later, comic genius Stephen Fry is returning with Mark to see if the species still exist. A major BBC television series follows the two on six separate journeys which take them to the Amazon basin, East Africa, Madagascar, New Zealand, Indonesia and Mexico to look for a flightless parrot, the Amazonian manatee, man-eating Komodo dragons, man's closest living relative, the northern white rhino and an animal so bizarre it seems to have been assembled from bits of other creatures. These are not just travels to the four corners of the world, but a journey in time to open our eyes to what humans have done to the Earth in the 20 years since the original Last Chance to See expeditions. It is a unique insight into the disappearing world around us, by one of the most extraordinary, informed, enthusiastic and amusing partnerships.
314 pages, Hardcover
First published September 3, 2009
65 people are currently reading
3167 people want to read
About the author
Mark Carwardine
90 books37 followersMark Carwardine is a zoologist who achieved widespread recognition for his Last Chance to See conservation expeditions with Douglas Adams, first aired on BBC Radio 4 in 1990. Since then he has become a leading and outspoken conservationist, and a prolific broadcaster, columnist and photographer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
November 9, 2024
More than twenty years after author (and photographer) Mark Carwardine (who is by training and career a zoologist) and the late Douglas Adams went on an extended and gruelling global expedition to view and report on a list of critically endangered animal species, the same Mark Carwardine (this time accompanied by celebrated comedian Stephen Fry) has retraced and tried to basically reenact that first journey (mostly to see whether any progress has been made with regard to animal conservation and in particular with regard to the animals featured in the first book, in Douglas Adam's original Last Chance to See, which I have not yet read but am planning to in the near future).
And the result of this second project (which was actually also and perhaps even first and foremost a BBC miniseries starring Stephen Fry and Mark Carwardine) has been the latter's 2009 Last Chance to See: In the Footsteps of Douglas Adams (a mostly rather majorly depressing and frustrating personal reading experience for me, as while indeed immensely interesting and enlightening, the truth of the matter remains that there have only been very very few conservation successes since Douglas Adams penned his original book in 1990, with two of the animals featured in Last Chance to See, the Northern White Rhino and the Yangtze River Dolphin now most probably if not definitely extinct and many of the other animal species still only barely hanging on, still critically threatened due to poaching, traditional medicine usage, superstition, hunting for sport and pleasure, habitat loss, invasive species and so on and so on). But nevertheless, and even though Last Chance to See: In the Footsteps of Douglas Adams is for all intents and purposes rather majorly sobering and much saddening, I would absolutely and most highly recommend it (as Last Chance to See: In the Footsteps of Douglas Adams is an important document, a necessary accusation and often condemnation of our world, of modern humans, of how we still have not learned and continue to exploit nature, both its fauna and its flora, callously and thoughtlessly for comfort, joy and even entertainment, with the only minor but still a bit annoying caveat and objection being that I for one would have liked a bit more actual science and zoological information and less of a chatty travelogue presented, as well as a list of academic, actual science based books for further study and research, in other words, a bibliography).
And finally, you are probably wondering why I am still ranking this book as a favourite even though my star rating is only three stars. Well for one, and as already alluded to above, Last Chance to See: In the Footsteps of Douglas Adams presents so important and essential a topic for me that even though I do not agree with all of Mark Carwardine's assertions (such as his albeit only grudging support of limited trophy hunting in Africa) and while I sometimes do find the tone of narration just a trifle too unserious and not scientific enough for the topic and themes at hand, a place on my favourites shelf is most definitely still warranted. And for two, I absolutely and loudly must applaud Mark Carwardine for speaking out so vehemently against poaching and how especially traditional Chinese medicine and certain aspects of Chinese culture (such as the consumption of shark fin soup) have indeed emboldened and enabled poachers and driven many animal species to the absolute brink (I mean, who cares about so-called political correctness when it comes to the very real and inconvenient truth that many amimal species are in dire straits and that these dire straits are almost entirely human caused and for what, for superstitious and unscientific beliefs in "magical" types of animal-based medicines and cures).
And the result of this second project (which was actually also and perhaps even first and foremost a BBC miniseries starring Stephen Fry and Mark Carwardine) has been the latter's 2009 Last Chance to See: In the Footsteps of Douglas Adams (a mostly rather majorly depressing and frustrating personal reading experience for me, as while indeed immensely interesting and enlightening, the truth of the matter remains that there have only been very very few conservation successes since Douglas Adams penned his original book in 1990, with two of the animals featured in Last Chance to See, the Northern White Rhino and the Yangtze River Dolphin now most probably if not definitely extinct and many of the other animal species still only barely hanging on, still critically threatened due to poaching, traditional medicine usage, superstition, hunting for sport and pleasure, habitat loss, invasive species and so on and so on). But nevertheless, and even though Last Chance to See: In the Footsteps of Douglas Adams is for all intents and purposes rather majorly sobering and much saddening, I would absolutely and most highly recommend it (as Last Chance to See: In the Footsteps of Douglas Adams is an important document, a necessary accusation and often condemnation of our world, of modern humans, of how we still have not learned and continue to exploit nature, both its fauna and its flora, callously and thoughtlessly for comfort, joy and even entertainment, with the only minor but still a bit annoying caveat and objection being that I for one would have liked a bit more actual science and zoological information and less of a chatty travelogue presented, as well as a list of academic, actual science based books for further study and research, in other words, a bibliography).
And finally, you are probably wondering why I am still ranking this book as a favourite even though my star rating is only three stars. Well for one, and as already alluded to above, Last Chance to See: In the Footsteps of Douglas Adams presents so important and essential a topic for me that even though I do not agree with all of Mark Carwardine's assertions (such as his albeit only grudging support of limited trophy hunting in Africa) and while I sometimes do find the tone of narration just a trifle too unserious and not scientific enough for the topic and themes at hand, a place on my favourites shelf is most definitely still warranted. And for two, I absolutely and loudly must applaud Mark Carwardine for speaking out so vehemently against poaching and how especially traditional Chinese medicine and certain aspects of Chinese culture (such as the consumption of shark fin soup) have indeed emboldened and enabled poachers and driven many animal species to the absolute brink (I mean, who cares about so-called political correctness when it comes to the very real and inconvenient truth that many amimal species are in dire straits and that these dire straits are almost entirely human caused and for what, for superstitious and unscientific beliefs in "magical" types of animal-based medicines and cures).
September 15, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Mark has a pleasantly amusing way of sharing their adventures, and Stephen as the fish-out-of-water sidekick is a hoot. As Mark said, "No one believed me when I said I was going to the Amazon with Stephen Fry. It must have seemed about as likely as taking Johnny Rotten to the opera, or joining the Dalai Lama for a week of downhill skiing in Holland." (pg 12)
Of course, the book is not about the human shenanigans ... interesting as they may be ... it's about the wonderful animals who live in constant threat of extinction. Written twenty years after the original journey of Douglas Adams and Mark Carwardine, this book retraces their steps. It was a 145,000 kilometres (90,000 miles) trip to 8 countries on 5 continents.
If you're interested in threatened species around the world, you're going to enjoy this. Lots of food for thought. The hardback edition has gorgeous photos. I don't read on Kindle, so, no idea how it looks on there.
4 Stars = It touched my heart, and/or gave me much food for thought.
Of course, the book is not about the human shenanigans ... interesting as they may be ... it's about the wonderful animals who live in constant threat of extinction. Written twenty years after the original journey of Douglas Adams and Mark Carwardine, this book retraces their steps. It was a 145,000 kilometres (90,000 miles) trip to 8 countries on 5 continents.
If you're interested in threatened species around the world, you're going to enjoy this. Lots of food for thought. The hardback edition has gorgeous photos. I don't read on Kindle, so, no idea how it looks on there.
4 Stars = It touched my heart, and/or gave me much food for thought.
January 4, 2011
absolutely excellent book about the author and stephen fry travelling all over the world in search of some of the rarest animals on the planet and filled with wonderful photographs.what isn't wonderful is the fact that all of these animals are rare because of us humans, in fact two of the species they went to find, they didn't...because they are now extinct.we have done an absolutely wonderful job of fucking this planet up.take the passenger pigeon for example.once the most common bird in the world, there were once 10,000 million of them in north america.10,000 million!!!do you have any idea how many that is?the flocks were so big that it sometimes took three days for the entire flock to pass overhead.THREE DAYS!!!and we managed to make them completely extinct in 100 years.they used to have contests for hunting them and you didn't win a prize unless you had shot and killed at least 30,000 of them.30,000!!!we don't deserve to be on this planet and the best thing that could happen to it would be for us to become extinct.here's hoping.
March 16, 2023
You might wipe your eyes and wonder “Haven’t I seen this title before?”; and, yes, you might have because this is a follow-up on the original book “Last Chance to See” by the late-and-yet-immortalised Douglas (Noël) Adams (DNA) and Mark Carwardine.
I love the first book as it is testament to DNA’s manyfold interests and his engagement in several fields. Not to mention his trademark humour.
This time around, Mark Carwardine, British zoologist and conservationist, is joined on a series of trips by Stephen Fry who is a worthy successor for Adams albeit not quite as funny.
As in the original, the authors have done a marvellous job of blending witty humour with profound insights into the world of endangered species. Carwardine's expertise as a zoologist and conservationist, in conjunction with Fry's linguistic prowess, creates an enchanting and deeply engaging narrative throughout the book. The duo retraces the steps of the original journey undertaken by Adams and Carwardine about 20 years earlier (around 1990), lending the book an air of nostalgia that is both heart-warming and tantalising.
What struck me most about this book was how the authors managed to maintain the essence of Adams' classic while infusing it with their own unique perspectives. The book is replete with vivid descriptions of the many endangered species they encounter, as well as the oftentimes precarious situations the authors find themselves in. I found myself chuckling at many (but not all) their humorous anecdotes and, at the same time, feeling a sense of responsibility towards the fragile ecosystems they describe.
In addition and to its great benefit, the book is peppered with captivating photographs that brilliantly capture the essence of the species and habitats discussed - and sometimes of the authors themselves. Especially a series of portrait shots of “The many moods of Amazon adventurer and explorer Stephen Fry” was highly amusing.
A very memorable part for me was about the Yangtze River dolphin: The last known specimen of its kind died in 2002. In less than two decades, during the prime of responsibility of my own generation, while we, the world, were well aware of their looming extinction, we eradicated an entire species of highly intelligent animals. And many other species, including the first book’s Northern white rhino, are gone as well.
However, it is not all doom and gloom. Carwardine and Fry also share stories of hope and resilience, showcasing the tireless work of conservationists around the world. Through their storytelling, they inspire readers to take an active role in preservation efforts, urging us all to become stewards of the environment.
All in all, this book is a fitting tribute to the original work and a splendidly engaging read in its own right. Mark Carwardine and Stephen Fry have woven a tapestry of wit, wisdom, and wonder that leaves a lasting impression on the reader. It doesn’t quite reach its predecessor’s genius but is still a great read.
Four out of five stars.
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Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam
I love the first book as it is testament to DNA’s manyfold interests and his engagement in several fields. Not to mention his trademark humour.
This time around, Mark Carwardine, British zoologist and conservationist, is joined on a series of trips by Stephen Fry who is a worthy successor for Adams albeit not quite as funny.
As in the original, the authors have done a marvellous job of blending witty humour with profound insights into the world of endangered species. Carwardine's expertise as a zoologist and conservationist, in conjunction with Fry's linguistic prowess, creates an enchanting and deeply engaging narrative throughout the book. The duo retraces the steps of the original journey undertaken by Adams and Carwardine about 20 years earlier (around 1990), lending the book an air of nostalgia that is both heart-warming and tantalising.
What struck me most about this book was how the authors managed to maintain the essence of Adams' classic while infusing it with their own unique perspectives. The book is replete with vivid descriptions of the many endangered species they encounter, as well as the oftentimes precarious situations the authors find themselves in. I found myself chuckling at many (but not all) their humorous anecdotes and, at the same time, feeling a sense of responsibility towards the fragile ecosystems they describe.
In addition and to its great benefit, the book is peppered with captivating photographs that brilliantly capture the essence of the species and habitats discussed - and sometimes of the authors themselves. Especially a series of portrait shots of “The many moods of Amazon adventurer and explorer Stephen Fry” was highly amusing.
A very memorable part for me was about the Yangtze River dolphin: The last known specimen of its kind died in 2002. In less than two decades, during the prime of responsibility of my own generation, while we, the world, were well aware of their looming extinction, we eradicated an entire species of highly intelligent animals. And many other species, including the first book’s Northern white rhino, are gone as well.
However, it is not all doom and gloom. Carwardine and Fry also share stories of hope and resilience, showcasing the tireless work of conservationists around the world. Through their storytelling, they inspire readers to take an active role in preservation efforts, urging us all to become stewards of the environment.
All in all, this book is a fitting tribute to the original work and a splendidly engaging read in its own right. Mark Carwardine and Stephen Fry have woven a tapestry of wit, wisdom, and wonder that leaves a lasting impression on the reader. It doesn’t quite reach its predecessor’s genius but is still a great read.
Four out of five stars.
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Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam
October 1, 2016
Parts of this book were nearly as fun as the original written by the late, great Douglas Adams, but I finished this book even sadder than when I finished the first.
Not only is Douglas Adams gone, but so are two of the species (effectively) that were written about in the first book.
As Mark Carwardine points out in the closing of the book, things have not been getting better for our planet's endangered species. It's utterly heartbreaking.
RIP, beauties. We humans have done you unforgivably wrong.
I'd like to credit this artist. If you know who the artist is, please comment and I will name and link them here.
Not only is Douglas Adams gone, but so are two of the species (effectively) that were written about in the first book.
As Mark Carwardine points out in the closing of the book, things have not been getting better for our planet's endangered species. It's utterly heartbreaking.
RIP, beauties. We humans have done you unforgivably wrong.
I'd like to credit this artist. If you know who the artist is, please comment and I will name and link them here.
March 6, 2014
in the footsteps twenty years on. 6 episodes
Episode 1 blurb Amazonian manatee
In the opening programme, Fry and Carwardine travel to Manaus in Brazil in search of the Amazonian manatee, a large aquatic mammal. Illegal hunting has reduced manatee numbers in the wild to just a few thousand individuals. On the Rio Negro, they have a close encounter with a group of endangered botos, which take food from their hands. They fly deeper into the rainforest to rendezvous with a boat, the Cassiquiari, on the Rio Aripuanã. Further upriver, they meet scientist Marc van Roosmalen and his team. Manatees are known to live in the vicinity, but despite searching the river and surrounding lakes, they fail to encounter the species in the wild. Carwardine takes Fry to INPA in Manaus, where captive manatees are kept for research. At Tefé, west of Manaus, they plan to join Miriam Rosenthal and her Mamirauá team on a trip to release an injured one-year-old manatee back into the wild. However, on the morning of their departure, Fry trips and breaks his arm in three places. After Fry is evacuated for medical attention, Carwardine reunites with the Mamirauá project. The manatee is transferred to a purpose-built enclosure in a remote river community before full release. By engaging local people, the team hope to foster an enthusiasm for conserving the species.
------------
Episode 2 blurb - Northern white rhino
The critically endangered northern subspecies of the white rhino is the focus of the second episode. The only surviving wild population is found in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Garamba National Park. Carwardine hopes to return to the Park where he and Adams managed to find and photograph the animals 20 years ago, but with no sightings since 2006 and the eastern DRC gripped by the bloody Kivu conflict, he decides it is too risky to return. In northern Kenya, Fry and Carwardine arrive just as a conservation project to relocate the animals to a protected area is being abandoned. They settle for an encounter with a tame southern white rhino instead. The pair then turn their attention to primates, visiting a chimpanzee rehabilitation centre and tracking mountain gorillas in Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
At Queen Elizabeth National Park, close to the border with the DRC, Carwardine is pleased to find that elephant numbers have increased from just a handful of animals to over 1000, showing that anti-poaching patrols are working. Returning to Kenya, the presenters join a team from the Kenya Wildlife Service on a black rhino relocation project. After a fast and bumpy ride, they find and dart three rhinos, and transport them 100 miles to begin a new population in a fenced conservancy
-------------------
Episode 3 blurb Aye-aye
The third programme is set in Madagascar, where Adams and Carwardine conceived the idea for Last Chance to See on their first travels together in 1985. In Nosy Mangabe, they encountered a wild aye-aye, a rare nocturnal lemur. Carwardine brings Fry to the very tree where he saw the creature, but this time they have no luck. The pair embark on a trip through Madagascar to view the island's unique fauna. They encounter brown and ring-tailed lemurs at Berenty Reserve, and the recently discovered Madame Berthe's mouse lemur, the world's smallest primate, in Kirindy Forest. Carwardine is shocked at the disappearance of the island’s rainforests since his earlier visit. Timber provides poor communities with fuel and building material - only the unsuitable baobab trees are spared. Slash and burn agriculture and monoculture also contribute to deforestation. Conservationists are battling to preserve the remaining fragmented islands of forest by planting green corridors and engaging local communities. In a Malagasy village, Fry and Carwardine witness a traditional healing ceremony. The aye-aye has been a victim of cultural beliefs as well as habitat loss, regarded by some natives as a symbol of death. When superstitious villagers encounter the animal, they kill it to prevent a death in their community.
Despite their misgivings, the presenters are charmed by a captive specimen at Antananarivo Zoo. The quest for a wild aye-aye goes on, and their perseverance is finally rewarded with a sighting of two animals in the same tree in Mananara Nord National Park.
---------------------
4. "Komodo dragon"
blurb - Fry and Carwardine travel to the Malay Archipelago to seek out rare, endemic species. At Snake Island they encounter a venomous yellow-lipped sea krait,
causing Fry to rue his decision to wear open-toed sandals. At Palau Selingan, conservationists are working to protect sea turtles. The presenters help to collect eggs from a female green turtle that has come ashore to lay, and then release new hatchlings back into the sea. Heading further south, the pair dive and snorkel on Indonesia's coral reefs, viewing adult turtles and seahorses. On Mabul Island they find sharks' fins and jawbones, dried seahorses and sea cucumbers for sale. Carwardine explains that the demand from Asian markets, for food and traditional medicine, is driving these species to extinction. At Labuk Bay they view proboscis monkeys in a mangrove sanctuary surrounded by oil palm plantations. Fry compares their noises to lunchtime at the Garrick Club. Their final destination is the island of Rinca, home to the Komodo dragon. The world's largest lizard is not to be underestimated: they meet rangers and villagers who have been attacked by dragons, and hear of a child who was killed. However, the dragons are entwined in the islanders' culture, and the tourists they attract bring much-needed income.
Fry and Carwardine help Park rangers to fit a radio collar to a dragon as part of a research project. With protection, tolerance from locals and the ability of female dragons to procreate through parthenogenesis, Fry is confident that the species can survive.
-----------------------
Episode 5. "Kakapo"
Blurb - The penultimate programme opens with aerial scenes of New Zealand's Southern Alps as the presenters fly in by helicopter. This was once the natural habitat of the kakapo, a critically endangered flightless parrot now confined to two offshore islands. Kakapo numbers were decimated by predators and Maori hunters, and fewer than 100 remained at the time the episode was filmed (the population is
now over 120). Later, they are shown a Maori cloak made from kakapo feathers in a Wellington museum. On North Island, they encounter other New Zealand rarities such as the kiwi and giant weta. They also meet filmmaker Peter Jackson, who confesses to a childhood phobia of wetas. Conservationist Don Merton takes Fry and Carwardine to the Chatham Islands, where the endemic black robin was saved from extinction by eradicating introduced predators. This became the model for kakapo conservation, and Merton now hopes to reintroduce kakapo to Sinbad Gully, a remote Fiordland valley.
At Invercargill, they enter quarantine before flying to Codfish Island where researchers are predicting a record kakapo breeding season (they are later proved correct, with 34 eggs hatching). They watch a hand-reared male called Sirocco broadcast his nightly booming calls. After days frustrated by bad weather, Carwardine's efforts to take photographs of Sirocco take an unexpected turn. The kakapo climbs on to his head and attempts to mate with him, much to Fry's amusement. He later gets the privilege of filming a female on her nest.
Fry is overwhelmed by the conservation effort dedicated to just one species, describing it as a "story of human passion and commitment".
---------------------
Episode 6. "Blue whale"
blurb - The subject of the final programme was due to be the Yangtze River dolphin but sadly, Carwardine's photos from twenty years ago are now a poignant
reminder of a species declared extinct in 2007. Instead, he takes Fry to the Sea of Cortez on the Pacific side of the Baja California peninsula in Mexico to search for the endangered blue whale. The area is an important breeding ground for many cetaceans, and one they are almost guaranteed to find is the grey whale. In San Ignacio Lagoon, a group approaches so close to their boat that they reach into the water and touch them. They ride mules through the peninsula's desert interior to view rock art painted by the Cochimí, a Pre-Columbian civilisation. Returning to the coast at La Paz, they visit a sea lion colony offshore to collect faeces. Analysis shows they have changed their diet from sardines to bottom-dwelling fish, evidence of overfishing. The presenters then join marine biologists on a research boat, one of whom is Miss Baja California Sur. She and Carwardine dive with a whale shark to take measurements, photos and collect a DNA sample. They spend several days at sea on board the Horizon searching for blue whales. They encounter breaching humpback whales, and learn about one predator benefiting from
overfishing of sharks, the voracious Humboldt squid. However, there are no signs of blues, so Carwardine calls in a favour from a local pilot. With the help of the spotter plane, they locate the blue whales.
okay - so those who bought into the original with Douglas Adams may be asking just why there was no teturn to see those adorable Yantzee River Dolphins... between the fist edeavour and this, that animal is now extict. Gone. No more.
Episode 1 blurb Amazonian manatee
In the opening programme, Fry and Carwardine travel to Manaus in Brazil in search of the Amazonian manatee, a large aquatic mammal. Illegal hunting has reduced manatee numbers in the wild to just a few thousand individuals. On the Rio Negro, they have a close encounter with a group of endangered botos, which take food from their hands. They fly deeper into the rainforest to rendezvous with a boat, the Cassiquiari, on the Rio Aripuanã. Further upriver, they meet scientist Marc van Roosmalen and his team. Manatees are known to live in the vicinity, but despite searching the river and surrounding lakes, they fail to encounter the species in the wild. Carwardine takes Fry to INPA in Manaus, where captive manatees are kept for research. At Tefé, west of Manaus, they plan to join Miriam Rosenthal and her Mamirauá team on a trip to release an injured one-year-old manatee back into the wild. However, on the morning of their departure, Fry trips and breaks his arm in three places. After Fry is evacuated for medical attention, Carwardine reunites with the Mamirauá project. The manatee is transferred to a purpose-built enclosure in a remote river community before full release. By engaging local people, the team hope to foster an enthusiasm for conserving the species.
------------
Episode 2 blurb - Northern white rhino
The critically endangered northern subspecies of the white rhino is the focus of the second episode. The only surviving wild population is found in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Garamba National Park. Carwardine hopes to return to the Park where he and Adams managed to find and photograph the animals 20 years ago, but with no sightings since 2006 and the eastern DRC gripped by the bloody Kivu conflict, he decides it is too risky to return. In northern Kenya, Fry and Carwardine arrive just as a conservation project to relocate the animals to a protected area is being abandoned. They settle for an encounter with a tame southern white rhino instead. The pair then turn their attention to primates, visiting a chimpanzee rehabilitation centre and tracking mountain gorillas in Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
At Queen Elizabeth National Park, close to the border with the DRC, Carwardine is pleased to find that elephant numbers have increased from just a handful of animals to over 1000, showing that anti-poaching patrols are working. Returning to Kenya, the presenters join a team from the Kenya Wildlife Service on a black rhino relocation project. After a fast and bumpy ride, they find and dart three rhinos, and transport them 100 miles to begin a new population in a fenced conservancy
-------------------
Episode 3 blurb Aye-aye
The third programme is set in Madagascar, where Adams and Carwardine conceived the idea for Last Chance to See on their first travels together in 1985. In Nosy Mangabe, they encountered a wild aye-aye, a rare nocturnal lemur. Carwardine brings Fry to the very tree where he saw the creature, but this time they have no luck. The pair embark on a trip through Madagascar to view the island's unique fauna. They encounter brown and ring-tailed lemurs at Berenty Reserve, and the recently discovered Madame Berthe's mouse lemur, the world's smallest primate, in Kirindy Forest. Carwardine is shocked at the disappearance of the island’s rainforests since his earlier visit. Timber provides poor communities with fuel and building material - only the unsuitable baobab trees are spared. Slash and burn agriculture and monoculture also contribute to deforestation. Conservationists are battling to preserve the remaining fragmented islands of forest by planting green corridors and engaging local communities. In a Malagasy village, Fry and Carwardine witness a traditional healing ceremony. The aye-aye has been a victim of cultural beliefs as well as habitat loss, regarded by some natives as a symbol of death. When superstitious villagers encounter the animal, they kill it to prevent a death in their community.
Despite their misgivings, the presenters are charmed by a captive specimen at Antananarivo Zoo. The quest for a wild aye-aye goes on, and their perseverance is finally rewarded with a sighting of two animals in the same tree in Mananara Nord National Park.
---------------------
4. "Komodo dragon"
blurb - Fry and Carwardine travel to the Malay Archipelago to seek out rare, endemic species. At Snake Island they encounter a venomous yellow-lipped sea krait,
causing Fry to rue his decision to wear open-toed sandals. At Palau Selingan, conservationists are working to protect sea turtles. The presenters help to collect eggs from a female green turtle that has come ashore to lay, and then release new hatchlings back into the sea. Heading further south, the pair dive and snorkel on Indonesia's coral reefs, viewing adult turtles and seahorses. On Mabul Island they find sharks' fins and jawbones, dried seahorses and sea cucumbers for sale. Carwardine explains that the demand from Asian markets, for food and traditional medicine, is driving these species to extinction. At Labuk Bay they view proboscis monkeys in a mangrove sanctuary surrounded by oil palm plantations. Fry compares their noises to lunchtime at the Garrick Club. Their final destination is the island of Rinca, home to the Komodo dragon. The world's largest lizard is not to be underestimated: they meet rangers and villagers who have been attacked by dragons, and hear of a child who was killed. However, the dragons are entwined in the islanders' culture, and the tourists they attract bring much-needed income.
Fry and Carwardine help Park rangers to fit a radio collar to a dragon as part of a research project. With protection, tolerance from locals and the ability of female dragons to procreate through parthenogenesis, Fry is confident that the species can survive.
-----------------------
Episode 5. "Kakapo"
Blurb - The penultimate programme opens with aerial scenes of New Zealand's Southern Alps as the presenters fly in by helicopter. This was once the natural habitat of the kakapo, a critically endangered flightless parrot now confined to two offshore islands. Kakapo numbers were decimated by predators and Maori hunters, and fewer than 100 remained at the time the episode was filmed (the population is
now over 120). Later, they are shown a Maori cloak made from kakapo feathers in a Wellington museum. On North Island, they encounter other New Zealand rarities such as the kiwi and giant weta. They also meet filmmaker Peter Jackson, who confesses to a childhood phobia of wetas. Conservationist Don Merton takes Fry and Carwardine to the Chatham Islands, where the endemic black robin was saved from extinction by eradicating introduced predators. This became the model for kakapo conservation, and Merton now hopes to reintroduce kakapo to Sinbad Gully, a remote Fiordland valley.
At Invercargill, they enter quarantine before flying to Codfish Island where researchers are predicting a record kakapo breeding season (they are later proved correct, with 34 eggs hatching). They watch a hand-reared male called Sirocco broadcast his nightly booming calls. After days frustrated by bad weather, Carwardine's efforts to take photographs of Sirocco take an unexpected turn. The kakapo climbs on to his head and attempts to mate with him, much to Fry's amusement. He later gets the privilege of filming a female on her nest.
Fry is overwhelmed by the conservation effort dedicated to just one species, describing it as a "story of human passion and commitment".
---------------------
Episode 6. "Blue whale"
blurb - The subject of the final programme was due to be the Yangtze River dolphin but sadly, Carwardine's photos from twenty years ago are now a poignant
reminder of a species declared extinct in 2007. Instead, he takes Fry to the Sea of Cortez on the Pacific side of the Baja California peninsula in Mexico to search for the endangered blue whale. The area is an important breeding ground for many cetaceans, and one they are almost guaranteed to find is the grey whale. In San Ignacio Lagoon, a group approaches so close to their boat that they reach into the water and touch them. They ride mules through the peninsula's desert interior to view rock art painted by the Cochimí, a Pre-Columbian civilisation. Returning to the coast at La Paz, they visit a sea lion colony offshore to collect faeces. Analysis shows they have changed their diet from sardines to bottom-dwelling fish, evidence of overfishing. The presenters then join marine biologists on a research boat, one of whom is Miss Baja California Sur. She and Carwardine dive with a whale shark to take measurements, photos and collect a DNA sample. They spend several days at sea on board the Horizon searching for blue whales. They encounter breaching humpback whales, and learn about one predator benefiting from
overfishing of sharks, the voracious Humboldt squid. However, there are no signs of blues, so Carwardine calls in a favour from a local pilot. With the help of the spotter plane, they locate the blue whales.
okay - so those who bought into the original with Douglas Adams may be asking just why there was no teturn to see those adorable Yantzee River Dolphins... between the fist edeavour and this, that animal is now extict. Gone. No more.
October 18, 2019
I would give this 3 and a half stars. It is essentially a travel journal documenting 2 people on a trip to remote places to view rare animals. To say the trip is challenging would be an understatement. I admire them for enduring the hardships of some locations. I commend them for the efforts to shine a light on the damage being done to many species. Although the subject is serious the writing incorporates some humour. It is a fairly easy read. I came away with a greater appreciation for the challenges faced by organizations working to save so many of our species. Very thought provoking.
November 28, 2017
Mark is no DA, nor is he Stephen Fry. However, for those who loved DA's first Last Chance to See, Carwardine clearly loved DA about as much as many fans, and this is a loving follow-up. The writing tries at times to have a bit of DA/Fry humor (humour?), sometimes succeeding and sometimes falling short. That's OK, though, because writing aside, the story is extremely interesting, depressing, and hopeful at the same time. I could actually have used more length, spent more "time" with each species and those who care for it/destroy it.
Mark also clearly loves the species he visits with and the people who care for them, and the end of the book is a flat-out plea to help, with a list of organizations to donate to to save these and other species. Perhaps it was written for this express purpose, and that's fine. It does well on its own, and gets a biased 4-stars from me as someone who just misses DA and his writing, and who thinks Stephen Fry is hilarious and intelligent (a sentiment echoed and proven in the book and by the author).
Mark also clearly loves the species he visits with and the people who care for them, and the end of the book is a flat-out plea to help, with a list of organizations to donate to to save these and other species. Perhaps it was written for this express purpose, and that's fine. It does well on its own, and gets a biased 4-stars from me as someone who just misses DA and his writing, and who thinks Stephen Fry is hilarious and intelligent (a sentiment echoed and proven in the book and by the author).
November 8, 2017
Very enjoyable read and informative about the state of some of the worlds endangered species. What is unique about this book is that it takes you to the animal and explains it's behavior, habitat and the context of the animal. Scary to think so many wonderful animals, whether you are talking about birds, lizards or whales are all truly magnificent. The more I read about animals the more I think THEY are the true wonders of the world.
June 5, 2013
Informative and disturbing without ever resorting to being preachy or sensationalist, Carwardine writes with humour and a refreshing lightness of touch. It is part zoological guide, part travelogue and part comedy thanks to Stephen Fry and the touching, grumpy friendship between them that shines through on every page.
December 8, 2023
This one was a re-read of an old favourite. I absolutely adored Douglas Adams and Last Chance to See was one of my favourites of his books, so of course I read this follow up book by Mark Carwardine as he set out to recreate the journeys he did with Douglas, this time with their mutual friend, Stephen Fry. Now, I'm not a fan of Stephen Fry - I find him pompous and sanctimonious and utterly patronising to everyone he encounters, but Mark is a delight and has the loveliest writing style. This is such an easy read, with plenty of chuckles and some good food for thought. Plus includes some truly meme-worthy moments.
March 20, 2024
eponymous sentence:
p14: I did do it all over again and, eventually, we had lots of life-changing, awe-inspiring and hair-raising experiences, presented a radio series, wrote a book about our adventures (called Last Chance to See) and became firm friends in the process.
It's so sad to see that a couple more species have crossed the threshold from endangered to extinct.
I bet these two were missing Douglas all the way.
p14: I did do it all over again and, eventually, we had lots of life-changing, awe-inspiring and hair-raising experiences, presented a radio series, wrote a book about our adventures (called Last Chance to See) and became firm friends in the process.
It's so sad to see that a couple more species have crossed the threshold from endangered to extinct.
I bet these two were missing Douglas all the way.
January 9, 2016
I don't often deem books worthy of 5 stars. I save that designation for those rare books that you just can't put down--even when you're busy, you still find yourself sneaking a page or two whenever you possibly can--those books whose words linger in your mind long after the last page is read. This is one of those books.
In the '90's I read the prequel to this book, Last Chance to See by Douglas Adams and zoologist Mark Carwardine. In this, the sequel, Carwardine decides to revisit the destinations he and Douglas Adams had visited twenty years prior, in order to search for the same severely endangered species they had seen back then. Adams, of course, died unexpectedly in 2001, so this time, Carwardine traveled with a mutual friend, Stephen Fry.
I found this book every bit as entertaining as the first one. Mark Carwardine writes with wit and humor, much like Adams did; it is easy to see why they got along so well. I gave this book five stars as opposed to the four I gave the first book simply because of the breadth of detail in this one. Carwardine is a most knowledgeable zoologist, and he imparts a lot of scientific information to his readers in a style that is not only readable, but actually entertaining.
Finally, I love this book because by the time you finish reading it, you will feel a very real sense of urgency about saving endangered species. Carwardine has a way of making you care deeply about the animals he is so passionate about helping as well as helping you comprehend the big picture about conservation. (All the gorgeous color photographs may just inspire you to add a few more travel destinations to your bucket list as well!) I highly recommend this insightful and engaging read!
In the '90's I read the prequel to this book, Last Chance to See by Douglas Adams and zoologist Mark Carwardine. In this, the sequel, Carwardine decides to revisit the destinations he and Douglas Adams had visited twenty years prior, in order to search for the same severely endangered species they had seen back then. Adams, of course, died unexpectedly in 2001, so this time, Carwardine traveled with a mutual friend, Stephen Fry.
I found this book every bit as entertaining as the first one. Mark Carwardine writes with wit and humor, much like Adams did; it is easy to see why they got along so well. I gave this book five stars as opposed to the four I gave the first book simply because of the breadth of detail in this one. Carwardine is a most knowledgeable zoologist, and he imparts a lot of scientific information to his readers in a style that is not only readable, but actually entertaining.
Finally, I love this book because by the time you finish reading it, you will feel a very real sense of urgency about saving endangered species. Carwardine has a way of making you care deeply about the animals he is so passionate about helping as well as helping you comprehend the big picture about conservation. (All the gorgeous color photographs may just inspire you to add a few more travel destinations to your bucket list as well!) I highly recommend this insightful and engaging read!
April 28, 2014
I loved the original Last Chance to See. I had high expectations for this book, but I must say that it far exceeded even those. This is one of those books where I want to run out and begin giving copies to all my friends (or even complete strangers) saying, "Here, read this, really you must." I read it in one sitting, moving periodically from location to location in my apartment, but NEVER putting the book down and eventually canceled my evening plans just so that I could finish it. In part, the book is gripping because it expertly balances poignancy, relevancy, and hilarity. As an ecologist, I'm naturally interested in the topic, but anyone who is human and hopes to continue to live on a functional planet should sit up and take notice. It never preaches or rants, nor does it make unrealistic demands. This is not a book of hand-wringing and wailing. However, neither does the author sugar-coat the truth. In part, the book is also captivating because it is visually stunning. The pictures allow the reader to participate more fully in the wild, sometimes dangerous, sometimes spellbinding, often hysterically funny journey. Read it. Please. You won't be sorry that you did.
December 30, 2012
Ok this really is two books in one - as the title says its in the footsteps of Douglas Adams - but it is also a revision of the original journey seeing what is happen and what can be done. The original book was released in 1990 and now nearly 20 years later (was released 2009) the message the book is trying to portray is just as important or more so. Stephen Fry though a seasoned travelled was not designed to travel in to the wilds and this book eloquently demonstrates it - however his lack of preparation (there are moments when he realises he is truly separated from civilisation) is over shadowed by the awe and wonder of the natural world - it is a shame that more people cannot experience it to appreciate what we are losing. The book is a great read and the TV series that accompanied it is also worth seeing. It is also good to see that something that Douglas so much believed in has been finally completed,
May 22, 2011
Genau wie der Vorgänger von Douglas Adams, versteht sich das Buch darauf, einem die atemberaubenden Landschaften und Tiere und ihre teilweise fast ausweglose Lage auf einzigartige Weise näher zu bringen. Ich hatte mir das Buch "nur" als Bonus zu den DVDs gekauft, aber ich muss gestehen, es hat seinen ganz eigenen Reiz. Wundervolle Fotos machen die Aufmachung nochmal lebendiger und Stephen Fry's Humor (aber auch der von Mark Carwardine!) bringen einen oft zum Lachen. Es war einfach toll durch das Buch zu stöbern und die Geschichten der Tiere nachzuverfolgen, die schon vor 20 Jahren einmal erzählt worden sind - teilweise mit sehr traurigem Ergebnis!
March 24, 2016
Remember the Dodo? He always thought no one could do him any harm, just for greed or for the fun of it.
Don't be a Dodo
Go here!
Don't be a Dodo
Go here!
Read
June 16, 2017Mark is not as clever or witty as Douglas Adams' (but, really, no one is). However, when he's not shamelessly borrowing funny lines from the previous book, he is genuine, heartfelt, and even moving. Required reading if you've watched the BBC TV show, since this tells the awesome backstories.
December 2, 2011
It's got to be close to 5 stars because the content is priceless - but then there's DNA's original which is one of the greatest books I've ever read and you have to leave a gap :)
January 4, 2018
В края на 80-те Дъглас Адамс и зоологът Марк Каруордин прекарват месеци заедно, в търсене на едни от най-застрашените от изчезване, животински видове на Земята . Или по думите на зоолога: "Сложихме една голяма карта на света на стената. Дъглас забоде карфици на местата, където му се ходеше, а аз на местата, където са всички застрашени видове и се отправихме на пътешествие до всяко място, което имаше по две карфици."
От Индонезия и Нова Зеландия, през бившия Заир, Китай и Мавриций, до Бразилия и Чили.
1990 г. излиза книга, носеща заглавието "Last Chance To See" и описваща по един изключително забавен начин приключенията на Марк и Дъглас.
20 години по-късно небезизвестният Стивън Фрай (който е бил и приятел на Адамс) се съюзява със същия зоолог и двамата тръгват на път, в опит да проверят каква е съдбата на описаните в книгата животни, две десетилетия след първата им среща.
(Втората) "Last Chance To See" е прекрасна колкото и телевизионната поредица, че и отгоре. Забележително количество допълнителна информация и снимки. Тук, вече ясно се вижда, какъв писател е Каруордин (Стивън Фрай пише само предговора, но присъства из цялата книга с остроумните си забележки :D ).
Книга за амазонския ламантин, суданския бял носорог, ай-ай, какапо, комодския варан и синия кит, но и за полуинтелигентните примати с автоматични оръжия и бейзболни шапки.
От Индонезия и Нова Зеландия, през бившия Заир, Китай и Мавриций, до Бразилия и Чили.
1990 г. излиза книга, носеща заглавието "Last Chance To See" и описваща по един изключително забавен начин приключенията на Марк и Дъглас.
20 години по-късно небезизвестният Стивън Фрай (който е бил и приятел на Адамс) се съюзява със същия зоолог и двамата тръгват на път, в опит да проверят каква е съдбата на описаните в книгата животни, две десетилетия след първата им среща.
(Втората) "Last Chance To See" е прекрасна колкото и телевизионната поредица, че и отгоре. Забележително количество допълнителна информация и снимки. Тук, вече ясно се вижда, какъв писател е Каруордин (Стивън Фрай пише само предговора, но присъства из цялата книга с остроумните си забележки :D ).
Книга за амазонския ламантин, суданския бял носорог, ай-ай, какапо, комодския варан и синия кит, но и за полуинтелигентните примати с автоматични оръжия и бейзболни шапки.
March 28, 2018
Carwardine has a' matter of fact' style that appeals to the non zoologist. If one were to run into the man at the city zoo ,he'd be the gentleman waxing eloquently about the plight of the komodo dragon,and drawing in a crowd. Little would his audience realise, he didn't actually work there.They would be following the man from enclosure to enclosure,like the crowds that follow the Beatles during their first trip to North America. Mark Carwardine doesn't look like a man who wants to be the centre of attention, but his passion, for the plight of many of the animals in this memoir , colours every word written in "Last Chance To See". This is the second time I've been through this book, it's the type of book you dig out , when you are seeking a little hope. Carwardine guides his reader through the good , bad and ugly history of conservation and he or she will come away from this memoir with a better perspective of the creatures we share our planet with.
July 26, 2018
A beautiful and rather tragic tale following in the footsteps of Douglas Adams and Mark Carwardine, to find out the fate of the species followed in the original book. Tragic, as a quarter are now extinct and, as Mark sums up at the end of the book, current conservation techniques aren't up to the task of significantly reducing extinction rates. Nevertheless, the book is still beautiful, both in the gorgeous photography throughout and the lovingly written narrative describing Stephens and Mark's travels across the world. The animals are brought to life (a bad choice of words maybe) through Mark's detailed and interesting descriptions. Plus there's a lot of humour along the way, which I do love in a travel book. Definitely a book to read again and again. I just wish it had a happier ending!
December 19, 2022
I was mesmerised by the original book written by Douglas Adams and have read it several times and was a little worried that a follow up version wouldn’t meet my expectations.
How wrong could I be!
While Marks ability to tell a very important message is different from Douglas Adams’ it is no less amusing. His sense of humour was right up my street.
His book is another serious message of how the wanton destruction man is creating chaos for wildlife across the globe.
His trip to visit endangered species with Stephen Fry is funny, sad and though provoking, all wrapped up with some amazing photographs.
If we aren’t careful these photographs are all we will have left.
Definitely recommend anyone will a love of nature to read this book (and Douglas Adams’ version.
How wrong could I be!
While Marks ability to tell a very important message is different from Douglas Adams’ it is no less amusing. His sense of humour was right up my street.
His book is another serious message of how the wanton destruction man is creating chaos for wildlife across the globe.
His trip to visit endangered species with Stephen Fry is funny, sad and though provoking, all wrapped up with some amazing photographs.
If we aren’t careful these photographs are all we will have left.
Definitely recommend anyone will a love of nature to read this book (and Douglas Adams’ version.
June 20, 2019
I did read this recently but I can't give any dates as it was on my recipe book stand in the kitchen and I'd read sections when I was waiting for the kettle to boil, etc. Even more relevant now, particularly as the Northern White Rhino population is down to two and the delightful Kakapo have had a serious disease scare in recent weeks. Mark writes engagingly of the plight of these species, and Stephen Fry is as good a companion though it's sad that Douglas was not around to do the rounds with Mark for a second time. I was utterly beguiled by the Kakapo and am delighted that naughty Sirocco is still around and causing havoc!
August 14, 2019
4 stars. While Carwardine doesn't quite have the narrative charm that Adams had in the original book, he (almost) makes up for it in his unbridled sincerity and willingness to confront difficult questions and arguments head-on, which as the conservation situation gets worse, feels like an apt tone to take. I appreciated the better page layout and especially more photographs - this is where Carwardine's increased input shines. I did have to drop a half star from the original just as I was less inclined to race through it like I did its predecessor - I still finished in under 24 hours though. Ultimately, this edition is just as essential as Adams' original one, and both are worth the read.
December 15, 2019
Mark Carwardine and Stephen Fry travel the world (145,000 km) to see a number of rare animals. This travelogue is largely about their trials in coping with the travel, interspersed with some simple information on the animals. A major fraction of the photos are of Carwardine and Fry, but also with many of the animals.
Animals included the Aye-Aye of Madagascar, the Komodo Dragon, New Zealand parrots Kea and Kakapo, plus many others.
A breezy book of British humour with a little information on rare animals. A good book for those that are not aware of endangered animals and their plight.
Animals included the Aye-Aye of Madagascar, the Komodo Dragon, New Zealand parrots Kea and Kakapo, plus many others.
A breezy book of British humour with a little information on rare animals. A good book for those that are not aware of endangered animals and their plight.
December 15, 2025
I have loved Douglas Adams' writing style ever since The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. This book is about traveling around the globe to see some wildlife on the verge of extinction. It is really a collection of essays, each standing on its own.
These essays were written with his unique style of humor but somehow the book failed to really grab me. Not sure why. Perhaps it was his sense of humor. While he did profess these encounters had a large impact on him, I never really got a sense of exactly how it changed him.
Glad I read it. Worth a skim. Wouldn't read it again.
These essays were written with his unique style of humor but somehow the book failed to really grab me. Not sure why. Perhaps it was his sense of humor. While he did profess these encounters had a large impact on him, I never really got a sense of exactly how it changed him.
Glad I read it. Worth a skim. Wouldn't read it again.
May 19, 2017
A very thoughtful look into the corners of the world where most men will never thread. Douglas Adams not only writes about his travels to find some of the world's most endangered animals in a humorous way, he also manages to force the reader to make an introspective look at our practices as a species and subtly begs for our help to do what we can to preserve what we have.
A great read for just about anyone. The hours will fly by like a Rodrigues fruit bat.
A great read for just about anyone. The hours will fly by like a Rodrigues fruit bat.
January 29, 2020
Meeleolukas reportaaž loodusteadlasest ja koomikust tandemi aastasest reisist maailma kõige ohustatud loomaliikide otsinguil. Kirja pandud muhedalt, kirjeldused meeste seiklustest naljakad (stiil on selline, et ma kuulsin seda oma peas Pronto häälega ette loetavat), loomade kohta saab väga palju uut põnevat teada (minu lemmikud on kakapod), suurepärased fotod. Väga tore ja samas kurb, mõtlemapanev lugemine. Nautisin väga.
August 29, 2022
A fitting tribute and revisiting of the original. As with most conservation books there are times where you despair at the decline in nature, but through Carwardines witty writing and the occasional quip from Fry this book brings hope to a world of darkness, amongst all of the tragedy there are glimmers of joy.
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