Marine & freshwater mammals – The Bell Bookshop

The Book of Quint

Emma — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

‘1,100 men went into the water?’So begins the critically acclaimed and haunting monologue by actor Robert Shaw as grizzled shark hunter Quint in the movie Jaws, in which he describes his experience as a survivor of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis in the dying days of the Second World War. The Indianapolis was returning from delivering the first atomic bomb to Tinian, and on its way to the Philippines, when a Japanese submarine hit it with two torpedoes. The ship sank in twelve minutes, leaving hundreds of crew floating in the ocean with hardly any food, water or lifeboats. During the next five days most died from a combination of exposure, salt poisoning, dehydration and the worst mass shark attacks in recorded history. Only 316 of 1,195 crew survived. This historic event provides the motivation for Quint’s iconic character in Jaws.As we approach the fiftieth anniversary of Jaws, the first summer blockbuster, author and host of the podcast ‘The Jaws Obsession’ Ryan Dacko has written the definitive prequel novel to the movie, telling the story of Quint. Beginning with him adrift in the Philippine Sea after the sinking, and after the end of the war following him first to San Francisco and then to Amity Island, we read of how and when he acquires his many scars, how he comes to own his boat, the Orca, and how he develops his technique for hunting sharks as seen in the movie. Along the way we meet figures from history such as Charles McVay, captain of the doomed Indianapolis, and characters from the movie Jaws such as Larry Vaughn, the slippery mayor of Amity Island, ichthyologist Matt Hooper and Quint’s mate Hershel Salvatore. This novel, the result of extensive research by the author, expands the Jaws universe, and adds crucial backstory that enhances the experience of watching what many still consider to be the greatest movie ever made. It is a story of overcoming odds, survivor’s guilt, PTSD, one man’s quest for justice, and lots of sharks.

Where the seals sing

Emma — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

There are fewer grey seals in the world than endangered African elephants, but the British Isles host almost half of this global population. Every year these charismatic animals, with their expressive eyes and whiskers more sensitive than our fingertips, haul out on our shores to breed and raise their pups.

As graceful in the sea as they might seem clumsy on land, grey seals have visited our shores and enriched our culture for centuries. Yet we still know relatively little about these captivating animals. As Susan Richardson journeys to the crags and crevices of the coast, she explores the mysteries and mythologies of seals, learning not just how they live but also how we ought to live with them.
PRAISE FOR SUSAN RICHARDSON
‘Cut and precise, archaic and innovative, transcendent and in-the-moment, [Richardson] sees the life of the sea as a mirror of ourselves, and vice versa: always changing, always the same ? Vital, glorious and salutary’
PHILIP HOARE, AUTHOR OF LEVIATHAN
‘[Richardson] writes in prehensile language, capable of grasping something vast, ancient, chthonic: the Earth in must’
JAY GRIFFITHS, AUTHOR OF WILD
‘Richardson beautifully marries the landscape of the polar regions with their – and her own – emotional topography’
SARA WHEELER
Susan Richardson has always been entranced by seals; they seem to have surfaced at key junctions throughout her life, comforting her as an anxious child, bringing joy as she began to spread her wings as a writer and helping her to find her way after the loss of her mother. Now she sets out to trace the rhythm of their lives, travelling the coasts clockwise from Cornwall to Norfolk, in line with the autumn pupping season. Along the way she explores the myths surrounding seals, from their shapeshifting selkie skins to the claims that they decimate fish populations, and she discovers that the greatest dangers they face come from co-existing with us.
Brimming with vivid descriptions of the natural world, Where the Seals Sing is a lyrical tale of memory, rescue and rehabilitation. While loss, both personal and ecological, is a recurring theme, the human-seal connection that flows through the story is stirring and uplifting.

How to Speak Whale

Emma — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0000

‘A must-read’ New Scientist
‘Fascinating’ Greta Thunberg
‘Enthralling’ George Monbiot
‘Brilliant’ Philip Hoare

A thrilling investigation into the pioneering world of animal communication, where big data and artificial intelligence are changing our relationship with animals forever

In 2015, wildlife filmmaker Tom Mustill was whale watching when a humpback breached onto his kayak and nearly killed him. After a video clip of the event went viral, Tom found himself inundated with theories about what happened. He became obsessed with trying to find out what the whale had been thinking and sometimes wished he could just ask it. In the process of making a film about his experience, he discovered that might not be such a crazy idea.

This is a story about the pioneers in a new age of discovery, whose cutting-edge developments in natural science and technology are taking us to the brink of decoding animal communication – and whales, with their giant mammalian brains and sophisticated vocalisations, offer one of the most realistic opportunities for us to do so. Using ‘underwater ears,’ robotic fish, big data and machine intelligence, leading scientists and tech-entrepreneurs across the world are working to turn the fantasy of Dr Dolittle into a reality, upending much of what we know about these mysterious creatures. But what would it mean if we were to make contact? And with climate change threatening ever more species with extinction, would doing so alter our approach to the natural world?

Enormously original and hugely entertaining, How to Speak Whale is an unforgettable look at how close we truly are to communicating with another species – and how doing so might change our world beyond recognition.

Where the Seals Sing

Emma — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Susan Richardson has always been entranced by seals; they seem to have surfaced at key junctions throughout her life, comforting her as an anxious child, bringing joy as she began to spread her wings as a writer and helping her to find her way after the loss of her mother. Now she sets out to trace the rhythm of their lives, travelling the coasts clockwise from Cornwall to Norfolk, in line with the autumn pupping season. Along the way she explores the myths surrounding seals, from their shapeshifting selkie skins to the claims that they decimate fish populations, and she discovers that the greatest dangers they face come from co-existing with us.
Brimming with vivid descriptions of the natural world, Where the Seals Sing is a lyrical tale of memory, rescue and rehabilitation. While loss, both personal and ecological, is a recurring theme, the human-seal connection that flows through the story is stirring and uplifting.

Field Guide to Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises

Emma — Thu, 26 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Practical and portable, this is the ultimate field guide to the world’s cetaceans.This outstanding new field guide to whales, dolphins and porpoises is the most comprehensive, authoritative and up-to-date guide to these popular mammals. With more than 500 accurate illustrations – complete with detailed annotations pointing out the most significant field marks – Field Guide to Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises covers all 93 species and every subspecies in the world.Many of the world’s most respected whale biologists have collaborated on the concise text, which is packed with helpful identification tips from cetacean expert, Mark Carwardine. Mark’s informative text is accompanied by up-to-date distribution maps for each species. Beautifully designed, to ensure critical information is quickly accessible, this is an indispensable resource that every whale-watcher will want to carry out to sea.

World of Whales: Get To Know the Giants of the Ocean

Emma — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Dive into an exploration of these majestic mammals, one of the most fascinating animal species on the planet. You already know that whales aren’t fish, but mammals who need to breath and hold their breath under water, just like us humans? And that the blue whale grows to be longer than three buses? In The World of Whales we explore many interesting facts about these fantastic animals, looking at the habits and characteristics that make the multiple species of this family so special. From the stealthy orcas that traverse the seas, to the beautiful songs of humpbacks and the booming calls of the blue whales, we immerse ourselves in the lives of these grandiose swimmers. Join our subaquatic expedition to follow agile fins and flukes, learn about their routines, and marvel as these marine giants breach the ocean’s surface.

Ocean

Emma — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0000

From the craft that investigated the wreck of the Titanic to how octopuses make use of jet propulsion: Eyewitness Ocean lets your child learn all about the secret watery world that covers most of our planet and the incredible creatures that live within it! Eyewitness Ocean also includes a giant fold-out wall chart full of facts, perfect for bedrooms or classrooms.

Packed with all the essential information from the previous edition Eyewitness Ocean is now more interactive and colourful than ever with new infographics, statistics, facts and timelines making the book more engaging and educational for your child.

Previous edition: 9781409343752