Among the great apes : adventures on the trail of our closest relatives

“A fantastic book. . . . Anyone who cares about animals will benefit hugely from reading it.” —Shaun Ellis, star of Animal Planet's "Living with the Wolfman" and author of __The Man Who Lives with Wolves__ Award winning adventure journalist Paul Raffaele’s __Among the Great Apes__ is the first book in over a decade—and possibly the last ever—to take its readers into the lives of our charismatic cousins the great apes in their native habitats. Raffaele, a feature writer for __Smithsonian__ magazine, has been called “nothing less than a one-of-a-kind world treasure” by renowned author Alvin Toffler. “Raffaele spins riveting tales of his mission to visit every species and subspecies of great ape in its natural habitat.” —Discover magazineAward winning adventure journalist Paul Raffaele's Among the Great Apes is the first book in over a decade—and possibly the last ever—to take its readers into the lives of our charismatic cousins in their native habitats. Humans have long felt a deep attraction to the great apes: bonobos, chimpanzees, orangutans, and gorillas. We see a reflection of ourselves in their faces, mannerisms, and interactions with kin. But we also look to them for contrast. Part of how we define ourselves as human rests with recognizing the differences between us and the great apes, in spite of the substantial amounts of DNA we share.Many great primatologists have dedicated their lives to the observation and study of these species in their natural habitats. Unfortunately, many of these sheltering places no longer exist. The great apes live in some of the most volatile regions on our planet, lands plagued by civil unrest, poverty, environmental degradation, and corrupt governments. In this book, Raffaele goes into the wild to see how our closest relatives are faring today. He takes us through isolated jungles and misty mountain forests, sharing wonderfully intimate observations of ape life paired with the most current research about their behavior.Raffaele, called the “last of the great, old-fashioned adventure writers” by the Washington Post, introduces us to leading conservationists and researchers working to save and study the apes. But best of all, he gets up close to these amazing animals. He describes orangutans fashioning umbrellas from long leaves, a young chimpanzee mothering a “baby” log, and the bonobos'lively ritual of swinging like gymnasts through the treetops before building elaborate nests to sleep in. Moving from Borneo to the Congo, Among the Great Apes brings us to the natural habitats of all the species and subspecies of the great apes—a trip possible for perhaps the last time.“A powerful account of the author's journey into our planet's last remaining gorilla communities.” —The Ecologist“Fantastic.... Anyone who cares about animals will benefit hugely from reading it.” —Shaun Ellis, star of Animal Planet's Living with the Wolfman and author of The Man Who Lives with Wolves“Profound and important... Raffaele shows us how amazing interesting and complex great apes are.” —David Greer, coordinator, World Wildlife Fund's African Great Apes Program

join Paul Raffaele, Whom The washington Post Calls The Last Of The Great, Old-fashioned Adventure Writers, Is On A Journey To Meet The Last Great Apes Living In The Wild.

humans Have Long Felt A Deep Attraction To The Great Apes: Bonobos, Chimpanzees, Orangutans, And Gorillas. We See A Reflection Of Ourselves In Their Faces, In Their Mannerisms, And In Their Interactions With Kin. But We Also Look To Them For Contrast. Part Of How We Define Ourselves As Human Rests With Recognizing The Differences Between Us And The Great Apes, In Spite Of The Substantial Amounts Of Dna We Share.

in Decades Past, Many Great Primatologists, Including Dian Fossey, Jane Goodall, And Richard Wrangham, Have Dedicated Their Lives To The Observation And Study Of The Great Apes In Their Natural Habitats. Unfortunately, Many Of These Sheltering Places No Longer Exist. The Great Apes Live In Some Of The Most Volatile Regions On Our Planet, Lands Plagued By Civil Unrest, Poverty, Environmental Degradation, And Corrupt Governments.

in among The Great Apes, Acclaimed Nature Journalist Paul Raffaele Goes Into The Wild To See How Our Closest Relatives Are Faring Today. He Takes Us Through Isolated Jungles And Misty Mountain Forests, Sharing Wonderfully Intimate Observations Of Ape Life Paired With The Most Current Research About Their Behavior.

raffaele Introduces Us To Leading Conservationists And Researchers Working To Save And Study The Apes. But, Best Of All, He Gets Up Close To These Amazing Animals. He Describes Orangutans Fashioning Umbrellas From Long Leaves, A Young Chimpanzee Mothering A Baby Log, And The Bonobos' Lively Ritual Of Swinging Like Gymnasts Through The Treetops Before Building Elaborate Nests To Sleep In. Moving From Borneo To The Congo, among The Great Apes Brings Us To The Natural Habitats Of All The Species And Subspecies Of The Great Apes A Trip Possible For Perhaps The Last Time.

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praise For Among The Cannibals:“simply Fascinating. . . . Raffaele’s Book Is Worth Devouring.”

Content: The mountain gorillas : gorillas and guerillas [sic] in the mist -- The wild, wild chimpanzees -- The bonobos : our long-lost cousins -- King Kong at the brink : the Western lowland gorillas -- The Cross River gorillas : rarest of the rare -- The enigmatic orangutans : Borneo's man of the forest -- A call to arms. The Mountain Gorillas: Gorillas and Guerillas in the Mist 1 The Wild, Wild Chimpanzees 69 The Bonobos: Our Long-Lost Cousins 129 King Kong at the Brink: The Western Lowland Gorillas 183 The Cross River Gorillas: Rarest of the Rare 237 The Enigmatic Orangutans: Borneo's Man of the Forest 295 A Call to Arms 343 A nature journalist uses a mix of reportage, natural history, and travelogue to embark on an often hazardous journey to witness the last great apes in their native habitats.