The Man Who Loved Pink Dolphins: A true story of life and death in the Amazon

Christopher Clark dedicated his life to protecting a remote section of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil. He lived an extraordinary life there, facing threats from government campaigns, apocalyptic fires, and more, alongside the Waimiri-Atroari Indigenous people. Australian writer Anthony Ham accompanied Clark on a journey through the forest, exploring its secrets and the dangers Clark faced. The book portrays Clark's complexity and the threats to the Amazon rainforest, highlighting the importance of protecting it.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 296 pages
Publication date: 05 October 2023
Publisher: Allen & Unwin

This is the story of Christopher Clark, a remarkable man who dedicated his life to preserving a pristine corner of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil. Clark's strict upbringing led him on a journey far from home, ultimately bringing him to the Amazon, where he fell deeply in love with the forest, its people, and its diverse wildlife. When a village elder in a dying riverbank town pleaded with him to save the forest and its inhabitants, this became his life's mission. Over the next thirty years, Clark settled in one of the most remote regions of the Amazon, leading an extraordinary life. Alongside the isolated Waimiri-Atroari Indigenous people, he bravely faced armed men, government campaigns to discredit and force him out, devastating fires, and numerous other challenges.

Australian writer Anthony Ham embarked on a journey to Clark's forest home in Xixuaú, where he had the privilege of hearing Clark's story firsthand. Accompanied by Valdemar, an Indian guide and a lifelong friend of Clark, they explored the enchanting forest world aboard a dugout canoe, witnessing the graceful presence of pink dolphins alongside them. Their conversations spanned days, fueled by caipirinhas, as Clark shared captivating tales of close encounters with jaguars and anacondas, his life among the Amazon people, and the ongoing threats against him. Ham vividly brings to life the forest and its myriad of dark and beautiful secrets, while also portraying Clark in all his complexity. Through their friendship, Ham and Clark faced one final attempt on Clark's life, adding an emotional and suspenseful dimension to their journey.

In the backdrop of a time of immense peril for the Amazon and its inhabitants, as vast expanses of the rainforest are ruthlessly destroyed, causing alarming consequences for our planet, the rainforest itself takes on a haunting character in this gripping book. The Man Who Loved Pink Dolphin's is a captivating, essential, terrifying, and hopeful narrative that unfolds as a story of resilience, determination, and the unwavering love for nature.

Weight: 424g
Dimension: 235 x 154 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781761065514