Rewilding: Giving Nature a Second Chance

Gr 6 Up—What is "rewilding" and why should students know about it? Love expertly investigates this growing practice in an upbeat tone, providing readers with succinct discussions on key concepts such as cores, corridors, keystone species, and the importance of rewilding plants and animals. Several success stories are presented, such as transplanting trumpeter swans in Canada's Elk Island National Park, restoring grasslands in New Mexico with prairie dogs, and reintroducing wolves into Yellowstone National Park. Also discussed are attempts at raising animals in zoos for release, the pros and cons of bringing back animals from extinction with DNA, and living with animals that have adapted to living among people in cities. Tales of failed translocation attempts are also included. The layouts are slightly busy, often featuring several photos on one page, but the text is large and easily readable. The work ends with a positive outlook and proposes some questions for readers to ponder ("Does wilderness have to mean putting everything back exactly the way it was before people came along?). The helpful index pinpoints specific animals or geographic areas.