Editorial Content for The Beast in the Clouds: The Roosevelt Brothers' Deadly Quest to Find the Mythical Giant Panda

THE BEAST IN THE CLOUDS is the story of President Theodore Roosevelt’s two eldest sons going off in search of one of the most rare species in the world: the giant panda. This beast was so big that it was practically considered to be a figment of many scientists’ and outdoorsmen’s imaginations.

The William V. Kelley-Roosevelt Asiatic Expedition was a zoological expedition to Southeast Asia in 1928 sponsored by the Field Museum of Natural History and organized by Teddy’s stalwart boys, Kermit and Theodore, Jr. They were determined to bring home a perfect specimen of the panda to be housed in the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, their father’s pride and joy. Many of the specimens displayed there were Teddy’s catches, and his sons intended to add their lot to his generous legacy.

"Nathalia Holt tells this story in a dry and informative style that often doesn’t capture the full richness and insanity of these men, their situations and their ultimate goal. But she does recognize that modern-day audiences are not as willing to allow this kind of violence and hunting of wild creatures."

William Vallandigham Kelley, a Field Museum trustee and benefactor, put together the money for the expedition and equipped the boys and their crew with every possible thing needed. One section was led by Kermit and Theodore, Jr., a second by the British ornithologist Herbert Stevens, and the last by a scientist named H.J. Coolidge. C. Suydam Cutting, a Roosevelt crony and a scientist himself, joined the Roosevelt brothers with their Chinese guide. Through weather disturbances, money woes, communication issues, and the tough athletic treks in the world’s most dire and dangerous corners, the Roosevelts and their team of experts traveled until they were at least close to their dream.

Running into natural obstacles they had only considered possible, the party abandoned their pack and rode animals over some mountain passes that rose over 17,000 feet (they went on foot when the animals got worn out). Eventually, through a combination of luck and stubborness, members of the expedition learned physical, cultural and psychological lessons about nature, themselves and the massive creature that they devoted an entire year to finding.

Between Tibet and China, as the American explorers closed in on their prey, they held purification rites after they had shot their prize and taken it through the village. This panda, their beautiful specimen, was considered a semi-deity, and killing it was never before allowed or witnessed in these highlands. But, as with all of Teddy’s nature preservation efforts, hunting was considered okay as long as a specimen was brought home to delight and educate paying customers at a museum.

Nathalia Holt tells this story in a dry and informative style that often doesn’t capture the full richness and insanity of these men, their situations and their ultimate goal. But she does recognize that modern-day audiences are not as willing to allow this kind of violence and hunting of wild creatures. Because of the difficulties in the regions of Tibet and China these days, it is tough to read a book about their cultural beliefs being impacted so intensely. I can only imagine the sad energy that the Roosevelts left behind.

On the other side, there is a respect for the wilderness in the work of the Roosevelts --- their expeditions, their hunting for information, their Noah’s Ark-esque push towards providing examples of exotic animals (that were not then but are now extinct). The American Museum of Natural History is one of the world’s foremost institutions for learning about animals, space and everything that is a part of our universe. It’s a conundrum, for sure, but historical nonetheless.