BOOK REVIEW: When man threatens the angels of the wild
Ng'ang'a Mbugua receiving his winners certificate from Prof Egara Kabaji, at the Wahome Mutahi Literary Prize awards ceremony. The late Wangari Maathai’s instructive declaration on environmental conservation, “We owe it to ourselves and to the next generation to conserve the environment so that we can bequeath our children a sustainable world that benefits all,” competently fits into Ng’ang’a Mbugua’s 12th book, Angels of the Wild. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
“The men inched their way towards a large elephant that was grazing behind the herd. A shot rang out. The elephant trumpeted desperately. Another shot rang out, and the mammal fell to the ground with a thud ... Birgen could feel his whole body shaking with indignation.”
Book title: Angels of the Wild
Publisher: One Planet
Reviewer: Gaylord Gitau
The late Wangari Maathai’s instructive declaration on environmental conservation, “We owe it to ourselves and to the next generation to conserve the environment so that we can bequeath our children a sustainable world that benefits all,” competently fits into
Ng’ang’a Mbugua’s 12th book, Angels of the Wild.
It is a novella that thematically follows in the footsteps of the author’s earlier award-winning works on environmental conservation. These books include the tragi-comedy novella, Terrorists of the Aberdare and Different Colours.
But unlike in the Terrorists of the Aberdare, where man is the victim, Hassan the elephant is the victim in Angels of the Wild. And so the graphic killing of this angel of the wild by poachers that is portrayed through a dream motif by the chief protagonist is as nostalgic as the death of the endangered white rhino.
“The men inched their way towards a large elephant that was grazing behind the herd. A shot rang out. The elephant trumpeted desperately. Another shot rang out, and the mammal fell to the ground with a thud ... Birgen could feel his whole body shaking with indignation.”
Birgen, the main character, wonders how he can use science and technology to conserve endangered wildlife. But can he do it in the face of all the odds working against conservationists? Grab a copy for the whole story.
