Penguins, Polar Bears & Pandas

Description A visually stunning exploration of the world’s most beloved animals—and how their charm, beauty, and familiarity inspire hope and meaningful care for our planet. Why do penguins make us smile, pandas melt our hearts, and polar bears symbolize the fight against climate change? Penguins, Polar Bears and Pandas explores the emotional connection between humans and the animals we find irresistible—and why that connection matters more than ever. Blending accessible science, storytelling, and extraordinary photography, this book introduces readers to iconic species such as penguins, polar bears, pandas, whales, seals, elephants, big cats, giraffes, monarch butterflies, and great apes, revealing the psychological and biological reasons we respond to them so strongly. From cuteness and familiarity to intelligence and shared behaviours, these animals become ambassadors for conservation, drawing our attention to fragile ecosystems and inspiring action far beyond their own survival. Each chapter pairs stunning, close-up wildlife photography with engaging explanations and real-world conservation stories. Readers discover how charismatic animals create a “halo effect,” helping protect entire habitats, and how hope—not fear—is one of the most powerful tools in environmental change. Written by conservation communicator Dr Wiebke Finkler and illustrated with award-winning photography by Scott Davis, this book is as thoughtful as it is beautiful. In an era dominated by climate anxiety, Penguins, Polar Bears and Pandas offers something rare: a visually luxurious, intellectually engaging, and genuinely hopeful reminder that connection leads to care, and care leads to change. Authors Dr Wiebke Finkler Dr Wiebke Finkler is a science communicator, filmmaker, and marketing researcher with a background in marine biology. Her work focuses on how storytelling, psychology, and community-based engagement can foster sustainable human–wildlife relationships and positive environmental change. She is a lecturer in marketing at the University of Otago, New Zealand, and has worked extensively at the intersection of conservation, communication, and social impact. Scott Davis Scott Davis is a wildlife researcher and professional photographer specializing in wildlife, travel, and documentary imagery. Trained as a wildlife and marine biologist, his work has taken him to all seven continents, capturing powerful, intimate images that bring viewers eye to eye with the natural world.