Conservationist Dr. Bhagavan Antle & TIGERS

In 1982, conservationist Dr Bhagavan Antle was introduced to a Siberian tiger cub by a zoo director visitng his clinic. Animal-lover Antle was so enthralled by the the tiger that he founded The Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species (T.I.G.E.R.S.) - a wildlife education organization, dedicated to promoting global conservation in an interactive and entertaining way.

He also set up the Rare Species Fund (R.S.F.) to raise funds in support of international wildlife conservation programs. T.I.G.E.R.S. and the R.S.F. are based in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and operate four public education exhibits and yearly productions of the highly acclaimed "The Tale of the Tiger"" show. They have also contributed to Matabeleland Leopard and Cheetah project in Zimbabwe, the Savannah Cheetah Foundation in South Africa and Samutprakam Wildlife Park in Thailand.

Today, Antle is widely recognized as one of the foremost animal trainers in the world, having worked with thousands of animals and even in Hollywood on such films as Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls and Forrest Gump.

He continues to promote the education and conservation of endangered species and remains as enthralled as ever by the creatures he protects. In this stunning collection of studio photographs, Antle invites us to get up close and personal with seven species of big cat: leopard, cheetah, lion, lynx, ocelot, panther and tiger. Beautifully photographed by Barry Bland, the grace and purity of the feline form is accentuated against the blank setting of a studio background, giving these images a candid and intimate feel. An extraordinary sense of personality shines through alongside magnificent colors, markings and textures, shown unhindered and up close. Including portraits of both cubs and adults and with a profile of each photographed cat, this beautiful book will be treasured by both artists and cat-lovers alike.

Dr Bhagavan Antle is the founder and director of T.I.G.E.R.S. (The Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species) and the R.S.F. (The Rare Species Fund). He is one of the foremost animal trainers in the world and has travelled the globe promoting the education and conservation of the most rare and endangered species on the planet.