The Hunt for the Golden Mole

An irresistibly intriguing, inspiring and charming book about the importance of every living creature, large and small, and why it is our responsibility to protect them . This story is a quest for an animal so rare that a sighting has never been recorded. The Somali golden mole was first described in 1964. It features in a number of textbooks, but the sole evidence for its existence is a fragment of jawbone found in an owl pellet. Intrigued by this elusive creature, and what it can tell us about extinction, Richard Girling embarks on a quest to find the animal and meet its discoverer. His journey comes at a time when one species -- our own -- is having to reconsider its relationship with every other. Part quest, part travelogue, part scientific debate and part environmental call-to-arms, The Hunt for the Golden Mole is an engaging story which illustrates the importance of every living creature, large or small. Covering early exploration, the history of hunting and collecting, the development of the conservation movement, as well as issues around extinction and biodiversity, this is a thoughtful, inspiring and important book.