Caribou and the Barren-lands

Victor Clulow is a professor of zoology at Laurentian University.

Zoologist George Calef brings a scientist’s eye and a photographer’s
skill to this outstanding book about the caribou. Its ample and
informative text, containing many personal observations, anecdotes, and
thought-provoking scientific findings, is juxtaposed with maps and color
plates. The latter range from shots seemingly taken in the midst of
caribou herds in full flight to those that effectively capture the
animal’s habitat.

In several chapters, Calef takes the reader through a year in the life
of the caribou and its habitat. This is followed with a section on the
impact of humans on caribou. A recurring theme throughout the book is
our limited understanding of caribou population dynamics. Calef points
out, for example, that summer is a more critical period in the
animal’s survival than winter, and that caribou populations increase
when wolf populations are high.

This large, well-illustrated volume, which includes a selected
bibliography, is recommended for all libraries.