From Hannibal's Elephants to the Dolphins of the U.S. Navy
December 1, 2011
Soldiers and assault weapons are usually what come to mind when one thinks of warfare, but animals have been used in armed conflicts throughout human history. In ancient times, animals were crucial to military operations even if just as a means of movement. Surprisingly, in today's technological era, animals still play critical roles in the military. This volume covers the work of nonhuman creatures in human warfare going back in time to Hannibal, in 221 BCE. The volume is arranged in three sections ( Animals in Combat, Animals in Support, and Animals in Incidental and Experimental Roles ), with each describing the use of specific animals, for example, dogs, pigeons, camels, bats, mules, even insects. The accessibly written text contains black-and-white photographs and illustrations, and the detailed index provides easy access. A small quibble: the cited references would have been much easier to consult if located at the end of each chapter rather than in an inclusive general bibliography. Although a few specialized works focus solely on the military use of dogs or camels or other animals, this reference source provides a broader overview discussing many animals, albeit with much less detail. Recommended for both public and undergraduate libraries.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)