Tab Article

Ratings: ★★★★☆ (4.3/5)
Genre: Natural History, Zoology, Wildlife, Science

Book Review:
Before the world went panda-mad, before they became the logo of the WWF and the stars of countless viral videos, there was ''Men and Pandas.'' Written by Desmond Morris, fresh off the phenomenal success of The Naked Ape, and his wife Ramona, this book is a fascinating deep dive into the natural history and cultural mystique of one of the planet's most extraordinary creatures.

The book is a labor of love and meticulous research. The Morrises sift through every scrap of information available at the time about the giant panda, from its first discovery by Western science in 1869 to the very few specimens that had reached zoos by the 1960s. They paint a vivid picture of the panda's remote mountain habitat in China, its unique bamboo diet, and its solitary, elusive nature. The statistics are startling: only about 40 pandas were estimated to survive in the wild, and they were valued at a staggering £12,000, making them the most expensive animals alive.

The book's narrative heart is the story of Chi-Chi, the London Zoo's beloved panda, and her ill-fated romance with An-An from the Moscow Zoo. The Morrises capture the international drama as the world awaited the outcome of this cold war courtship, a story that briefly made pandas bigger news than politicians. It's a testament to the animal's enduring power to capture the human imagination.

While some of the scientific data may be dated (panda conservation has come a long way since then), ''Men and Pandas'' remains a delightful and insightful read. It's a charming snapshot of a time when pandas were still a profound mystery, and a loving tribute to an animal that continues to enchant us. A must-read for wildlife enthusiasts and anyone curious about the origins of our panda obsession.