Lying in the Indian Ocean, the islands of Mauritius and Madagascar — where millions of years of evolutionary isolation created in these islands a flora and fauna unique in the world — provide the exotic setting for Gerald Durrell's expeditionary rescue work with animals. In this personal and delightful way, he entertains educates and makes a dramatic appeal to us all about the distressing state of these beautiful and endangered species around the world and shows us the serious consequences to life and its future on this earth. This exciting journey also inspired an international television series based on the author's rescue and breeding operations.