Tigers Between Empires: by Jonathan C. Slaght

The remarkable conservation story of one of the world’s most iconic animals.

Join us for a special evening with renowned wildlife biologist and author Jonathan C. Slaght as he introduces his highly anticipated new book, Tigers Between Empires: The Journey to Save the Siberian Tiger from Extinction. Building on the success of his acclaimed debut Owls of the Eastern Ice, Slaght returns with a powerful narrative that explores the complex history and conservation challenges of tigers caught between shifting political powers in East Asia. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear Slaght discuss his latest work, share behind-the-scenes stories from the field, and offer insights into the future of wildlife conservation in one of the world’s most remote and contested regions.

Deep in the snowy forests of North east Asia roams the majestic and revered Amur tigers, more popularly known as ‘The Siberian Tiger’. But in the final years of the Cold War, only a few hundred of these graceful animals remained in their home of the Amur River basin. As the Soviet Union fell, catastrophe arrived, with poaching and logging taking a fast, astonishing toll on an already vulnerable species.

Taking us on a journey through remote frozen landscapes, globally renowned conservationist Jonathan Slaght charts the incredible story of how Russian scientists and American conservationists came together to save these magnificent, solitary creatures. He retraces their steps to show how this dedicated, fearless coalition laid the foundations of new tiger research across Asia, transforming public opinion around tigers from something to be feared and hunted, to creatures we must protect.

Today, tigers occupy 7% of the lands they did 100 years ago, disappearing in the wild from Bali to Iran. In the ongoing global crisis of species destruction, Slaght shows us that the revival of the Amur tiger can bring us hope for the future: a model for how to live alongside, and revive, the natural world.

About the author:

Jonathan C. Slaght is an expert on endangered species of north Asia. He is the Regional Director of Temperate Asia for the Wildlife Conservation Society and has spent nearly thirty years travelling to and living in the region. His work has featured in The New York Times, BBC World Service, The Guardian, Smithsonian and Audubon. Owls of the Eastern Ice, his first book, was named The Times Nature Book of the Year in 2020.

'Gripping stuff. A nail-biting adventure that really matters' Charles Foster, author of Cry of the Wild

'A huge adventure at the frontiers of conservation, a whole hidden world, meticulously described, poised on the very edges of the wild and repeatedly made searingly alive by the majestic animals at its heart' Adam Nicolson, author of Bird School

‘Tigers Between Empires is a wonderfully complete and engaging account of the odds that passionate people can overcome when they truly believe in their mission and never give up the fight. …’ Merlin Hanbury-Tenison, author of Our Oaken Bones

This event starts proptly at 7pm

Tickets £8.00

Ticket plus book £30.00

Includes glass of wine/soft drink

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Author talks are held in our basement which is fully accessible via a nearby lift. Please ask a member of staff who will accompany you.

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