Human and Nature Collection: The Affection for Meerkats

Author: Alain Degregori, France; Raoul Assouline; Catherine Besins (Illustrations); Huang Tianyuan (Translation)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-06-01
Features: As Le Figaro Magazine stated when introducing the book "The Meerkat's Affection," "To see meerkats is difficult and winding, the process is astonishing." Meerkats live in the Kalahari Desert of central southern Africa. It is a vast expanse of sandstone stretching over two million kilometers, with no surface water, harsh climate, and rarely visited by humans. In this human-free zone, not only living for a few years is impossible, but even staying for a couple of days is extremely challenging. The photographer had to overcome not only the difficulties of the natural environment but also the threat to human life posed by predators. To get close to meerkats, Alain neglected to eat or sleep, lying quietly on the sand and patiently waiting. Sometimes, he willingly let the meerkats take charge, following their tracks or chasing after their burrows, running around everywhere. Meerkats are not fools. To accept these giant creatures that have hunted them since ancient times and threatened their survival would surely test them. Although the initial months of adjustment were not easy, Alain did not give up. He firmly believed that with patience, one day he would get close to the meerkats. The Library of Human and Nature, the charming demeanor of the adorable little creatures, and the magical works of the extraordinary photographer. The renowned French wildlife photographer Alain Degregori came to the Kalahari Desert in southern Africa in 1983 in search of a fascinating little creature—the meerkat, which was then little known to outsiders. In the first nine months, he took not a single photo. It wasn't until the meerkats no longer feared him, that they became familiar with him, and even dared to climb onto his head to keep watch, that he finally raised his camera. Over the next six years, the series of poetic and picturesque images of meerkats he captured made this book another magical work by the extraordinary photographer, and the charming demeanor of the adorable little creatures spread far and wide. As a result, some university students and professionals came to seek advice from Alain.