Wild China

has anyone else read the Wild China book? It follows the same structure as the series but can go into more depth and can be a bit more critical of China's wildlife record. On page 10 for example, it says "There are no official statistics on the amount of wildlife being eaten in China, but the China Wildlife Conservation Association estimates that in Guangdong province alone [a tiny area relative to China's overall size], 50 tons of wild frogs, 1000 tons of snakes and several thousand tons of wild birds are consumed in stores and restaurants each year, plus an array of mammals including badgers, civets, bats and pangolins." Sort of left me wondering how many individual frogs there might be in 50 tons!

Best of all though is the gazeteer at the back which details where and how to see China's animals in the wild. It is slightly disturbing though to read of "the world's only fully habituated troop of golden monkeys" -- but which have to be herded to the viewing area every day by local farmers. More surprising was the book's recommendation that if you want to see Siberian tigers you should visit the Hengdaohzei Felid Animals Raising And Breeding Centre -- although at least they added the warning that one should be aware "that Chinese visitors sometimes pay for live animals - including cows - to be thrown to the tigers".