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The Tiger

A True Story of Vengeance and Survival

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The Tiger

Written by: John Vaillant
Narrated by: John Vaillant
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About this listen

 It’s December 1997, and a man-eating tiger is on the prowl outside a remote village in Russia’s Far East. The tiger isn’t just killing people, it’s annihilating them, and a team of men and their dogs must hunt it on foot through the forest in the brutal cold. As the trackers sift through the gruesome remains of the victims, they discover that these attacks aren’t random: the tiger is apparently engaged in a vendetta. Injured, starving, and extremely dangerous, the tiger must be found before it strikes again.

As he re-creates these extraordinary events, John Vaillant gives us an unforgettable portrait of this spectacularly beautiful and mysterious region. We meet the native tribes who for centuries have worshipped and lived alongside tigers, even sharing their kills with them. We witness the arrival of Russian settlers in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, soldiers and hunters who greatly diminished the tiger populations. And we come to know their descendants, who, crushed by poverty, have turned to poaching and further upset the natural balance of the region.

This ancient, tenuous relationship between man and predator is at the very heart of this remarkable book. Throughout we encounter surprising theories of how humans and tigers may have evolved to coexist, how we may have developed as scavengers rather than hunters, and how early Homo sapiens may have fit seamlessly into the tiger’s ecosystem. Above all, we come to understand the endangered Siberian tiger, a highly intelligent super-predator that can grow to ten feet long, weigh more than six hundred pounds, and range daily over vast territories of forest and mountain.

Beautifully written and deeply informative, The Tiger circles around three main characters: Vladimir Markov, a poacher killed by the tiger; Yuri Trush, the lead tracker; and the tiger himself. It is an absolutely gripping tale of man and nature that leads inexorably to a final showdown in a clearing deep in the taiga. Biological Sciences Environment Nature & Ecology Outdoors & Nature Politics & Government Public Policy Science Russia Conservation Scary Hunting
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Incredible piece of writing. If you are interested in tales of humanity, geopolitics, nature preservation or human history this will appeal to you. Living on the other side of the Pacific is this small enclave of which I knew nothing about yet I came to throw myself into each time I turned this audiobook on. I finished it in a manner of weeks on my drive, 30 minutes at a time. Highly recommended but be warned that you will not be able to turn it off. Many times I sat in my driveway waiting for the right moment to turn off the ignition. Visceral storytelling at its best.

Put it on your shelf

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I didn’t know much about tigers prior to this, so it was all a learning experience for me. While there is some information on tigers globally, and efforts to stop their demise, at the end, this book was focused on a specific breed in a particular area in Russia, and a certain cluster of encounters. And oh, what a tale those encounters told. Jaw dropping, amazing and absolutely terrifying. Hang on, it’s quite a ride.

Tigers

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Enjoyed the content and the reader’s narration, but the audio production was conspicuously off the mark - had to crank my speakers to max to hear it. Annoying when switching to something else and getting blasted full force.

Great book, bad recording levels

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This book was unexpectedly recommended to me by a friend. John Vaillant does an exceptional job of weaving this gripping story with facts about Russian life in the wilderness, tigers, and human beings. Is the type of audio book which makes you want to write down notes as you listen to it, as you learn so many interesting facts. Well worth the listen!John Vaillant does an excellent job of narrating this wonderful book.

A Unique Gift

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The narration was spot on, it suited the book.
Great outlook on the plight of the Russian people due to governing bodies. Their relationship with Mother Nature through the interaction with an apex predator.

Must read!!(listen)

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