'Nitin Sekar has given us a tour-de-force of how the jungle's fate is interwoven with the myriad choices that individuals - and societies - make. India is for him a place of crisis and challenge, but also hope and renewal. In making spaces for nature - especially large but vulnerable organisms - we also win spaces of more meaning for humans. In a land where conservation is so fraught a mission, he finds ideas and endeavours that offer hope and direction.'
-- Mahesh Rangarajan -
Environmental Historian and Vice Chancellor, Krea University
'Nitin Sekar has written a fascinating tale of life in a Bengali village in the jungle, at the frontline of the human-wildlife conflict. His narrative shows why efforts to protect endangered animals will fail unless they take into account the complex needs of a growing human population. What's Left of the Jungle Book needs to be very widely read, not only in India but by everyone with an interest in conserving biodiversity.'
-- Peter Singer -
Professor of Bioethics, Princeton University, and author of Animal LiberationSekar's heartfelt and beautifully-told story counters the commonly-held romantic Western narrative of indigenous people living in harmony with nature. Full of intrigue, deception, family loyalty and hardships, it offers a glimpse into the daily lives of the people who are the guardians of India's remaining wildlife and gives a much-needed dose of reality. It should be read by every well-meaning conservationist. -- Ruth DeFries -
Recipient of the MacArthur Genius Grant and Professor of Ecology and Sustainable Development, Columbia University
'What's Left of the Jungle humanizes the people that sacrifice-invisibly, often involuntarily and generally without thanks-so that people around the world can enjoy the continued existence of majestic elephants and other species. Shining a light on these heroes and heroines gives their stories the power to inspire and transform conservation at a time when it is needed most. These are stories of deep empathy for both animals and the local people that make their continued co-existence possible.'
-- Paula Kahumbu -
CEO of WildlifeDirect and Host of Wildlife Warriors, Winner of the 2021 Whitley Gold Award for Conservation
'All of us love the idea of saving the world's last elephants, tigers, lions, and other dangerous animals, but very few of us have to live with them in our own backyards. With uncommon grace, wisdom, and wit, Nitin Sekar explores how villagers in rural India manage to do so. It's a touching and important story, beautifully told.'
-- David Wilcove -
Professor of Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Public Affairs, Princeton University
Through the story of one family, conservationist Nitin Sekar throws light on the human-wildlife conflict in India and shows us a glimpse of the future of India's diverse wildlife.
About the Author
Nitin Sekar is a conservation scientist interested in human rights and animal welfare in wildlife conservation. His writings have been published in Science magazine, Economic and Political Weekly, The Guardian, and The Indian Express, and his research has been documented in The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Hindu. He has a PhD in ecology from Princeton University, and his technical work has been published in journals like Ecology, Journal of Ecology, and Conservation Biology. Nitin currently serves as WWF India's national lead for elephant conservation.
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