A Chimp in the Family: The True Story of Two Infants--One Human, One Chimpanzee--Growing Up Together

Smith, Vince

ISBN 10: 156924460X / ISBN 13: 9781569244609

Published by Da Capo Press, 2004

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Bibliographic Details

• Title: A Chimp in the Family: The True Story of Two Infants--One Human, One Chimpanzee--Growing Up Together
• Publisher: Da Capo Press
• Publication Date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 156924460X
• ISBN 13: 9781569244609
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

In 1990, when Vince Smith—currently manager of the Diane Fossey Gorilla Fund's mountain gorilla conservation program— was working as a senior keeper at Chester Zoo in the English countryside, a newborn chimpanzee in his care was abandoned by her mother. Named Sophie, the infant chimp was taken home and hand-reared by Vince and his wife. Six months later another new baby arrived: Oliver, their son. A Chimp in the Family is the compelling and entertaining account of Sophie's life. Vince Smith vividly describes the parallel upbringing of Sophie and Oliver—through her early years with Vince and his family, her traumatic journey back to the zoo and her unsuccessful efforts to socialize with other chimps, her repatriation to Africa and reunion with her human foster family, and her integration in a semi-wild group of chimpanzees. A book both humorous (a family outing with both babies to the local pizzeria) and ultimately heartbreaking, A Chimp in the Family provides fascinating photographs and insights into the nature of our closest-living relatives—as well as the nature of human development.

About the Author

VINCE SMITH holds an MSc in Behavioral Ecology and has devoted much of his life to wildlife conservation. From 1987 to 1993 he was a senior keeper of apes at Chester Zoo, also working as a consultant for the Jane Goodall Institute in the Republic of Congo. In 1993 he left England to set up and manage the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Nanyuki, Kenya. Since January 2000 he has been living in Rwanda, where he is the regional director for the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, managing their mountain gorilla conservation program for Rwanda, Uganda, and Democratic Republic of Congo.