For Immediate Release Contact: Greg Borzo (312) 665-7106 gborzo@fieldmuseum.org The Lions of Tsavo: Exploring the Legacy of Africa’s Notorious Man-eaters By Bruce Patterson, PhD New book covers complete history, science of infamous lions CHICAGO–The very day the first team of volunteer conservationists joined Dr. Patterson in Kenya to study the notorious Tsavo lions, a lion was heard roaring at the foot of their camp. Nevertheless, the volunteers persevered, and others followed. Good thing. Such volunteers are the eyes and ears of Dr. Patterson’s research, the first thorough scientific project aimed at understanding the ecology and behavior of these rare, maneless lions. The volunteers are part of Earthwatch, which coordinates volunteers from around the world to assist in scientific fieldwork. Their efforts in Tsavo National Park is the subject of the introduction to The Lions of Tsavo (McGraw-Hill, January 2004) by Bruce Patterson, PhD, MacArthur Curator of Mammals at Chicago’s Field Museum. Deborah Verlench, a Park Ridge, Ill., resident who recently participated in an Earthwatch team with Dr. Patterson describes her trip in this way: “We were able to experience so much more than just a visual safari, making the two weeks not only one of the best vacations I’ve ever taken, but also one of the most profound! Nothing beats the satisfaction of pulling together as a team to locate one particular female lion in 170,000 acres of scrubland.” Continue