Beth Armstrong

Beth Armstrong (born: 1957) spent her childhood navigating her suburban neighborhood on foot and by bike immersed in and informed by the changing of the seasons. From that came her love of nature and her fascination with animals. In her 20's she landed a job working with gorillas - a job that would change her life. Her memoir takes readers behind the scenes at Columbus, Ohio’s famed zoo to experience the complicated social lives of western lowland gorillas and the profound privilege of working with them. Bongo, Toni, Jumoke, and, of course, Colo—the world’s first gorilla born in captivity—were
 just some of the individuals who inspired and shaped Armstrong’s commitment to improving gorilla husbandry and to encouraging her zoo’s involvement in protecting gorillas in the wild.

Her recollections give readers a glimpse into 
the fascinating world of gorillas—the familiar gentleness of parents toward infants, power plays and social climbing, teenagers’ exuberance, the capacity for humor, and the gorillas’ grief as they mourn the death of one of their own. In the end, Armstrong’s conflicted feelings around captivity and her lifelong fondness for these animals helped shape a zoo program known for its dedication to gorilla conservation.