HPH Publishing, which primarily focuses on Africa’s wildlife, have launched a beautifully illustrated coffee-table book that will captivate those who love lions

Vanishing Kings – Lions of the Namib Desert is the culmination of two decades of research by Dr Philip Stander, which provides unprecedented insight into how lions have adapted to the harsh desert environment. The book, which features more than 350 pages of visuals and content, will be available in stores later this month.

Says HPH Publishing’s Heinrich van den Berg, “Dr Stander has merged art and hard science into a profoundly detailed and beautiful book that will find its place as easily on a coffee table in the environmentally conscious home as on the shelf of the most discerning conservationist.”

Vanishing Kings, follows a documentary by the same name, produced by wildlife filmmakers Will and Lianne Steenkamp. Such is the immense amount and compelling nature of the material gathered, that a sequel to the film will be released soon.

An advance edition is available for order

The book, and the films portray the lives of four consecutive generations of Namib lions which Stander was able to follow and come to know individually for the duration of their lifespans. Each lion is afforded the chance to play a character in this story, revealing individual personality traits captured in anecdotes and interactions as well as exquisite photographs. The book will strike a chord with anyone with a love for these noble creatures, and also promises to reach them in a way they may not have been reached before – visually, intellectually, emotionally, and for the more academic reader – scientifically – because most research events in the book are original data that have not previously been published

“What Stander and the Steenkamps have managed to create through Vanishing Kings will be felt for years to come,” says van den Berg. “In a world of instant gratification, it is a celebration of the value of long-term work that reflects a complete immersion into a time and place.”

The ongoing theme of human-wildlife conflict captured in the book presents as many solutions as challenges and has already influenced conservation policy in Namibia. It is also a relevant and comprehensive case study for the collaboration of multiple disciplines in conservation, research, tourism and government.

A percentage of the book sale proceeds will be donated towards Desert Lion conservation. This is a jewel of a book and an advance edition is available for order until March 25 2018 here  . Your advanced order will save you R50, and your books will be delivered by courier before end of April in RSA.  The books will be available from the online store from the beginning of April for R699.