To preserve the last surviving remnants of gravely endangered species of fauna and flora from total extinction becomes more urgent every day, as the spread of civilization takes over their native habitat. In 1931, when the American Committee for International Wild Life Protection was established, it focused attention on the need for gathering information about gravely endangered species of mammals and birds. The Committee raised funds to support research on this subject, which culminated in the publication of Extinct and Vanishing Mammals of the Western Hemisphere by Glover M. Allen in 1942, Extinct and Vanishing Mammals of the Old World by Francis Harper in 1945, and Extinct and Vanishing Birds of the World by James C. Greenway, Jr., in 1958. These volumes furnish a base line of knowledge to assist future efforts in the protection of endangered species.

In 1953–54 the senior author worked with the Royal National Parks of Kenya in making ecological studies and in surveying the position of the wildlife resource and the national parks in that country (Petrides, 1955, 1956). In 1956–57 both of us undertook similar work in a neighbouring territory Uganda, under the sponsorship of the Uganda National Parks and the Uganda Game Department (Petrides and Swank, 1958). These studies were under Fulbright research awards of the United States government. In addition, visits en route were made to all major countries, from Capetown to Cairo, in the eastern half of Africa. Most important national parks and game areas were seen.