Product Description
Gorillas, one of our closest living relatives, are the largest living primates, and teeter on the brink of extinction. This study offers the first comparative perspective on gorilla populations throughout their natural range, and covers all known subspecies. Discussing phylogeny, evolution, functional morphology, behavioral ecology and conservation biology, this multidisciplinary work will be essential reading for primatologists, anthropologists, animal behaviorists and evolutionary biologists. ... Read more

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Tucked into one of the most beautiful and conflicted regions of the world are the last of the mountain gorillas. These apes have survived centuries of human encroachment into their habitat and range and decades of intense conflict and violence. The remaining 720 mountain gorillas exist in a fragile habitat, nestled in an area torn by human interests and needs for land, water, and minerals.

With captivating photography and the most recent scientific research, Mountain Gorillas takes you deep into the montane rain forests of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo to reveal the complex story of the mountain gorillas of the Virunga Volcanos and Bwindi. Gene Eckhart and Annette Lanjouw reveal how humankind affects the gorillas and their habitat, detail the innovative conservation and education efforts undertaken by governments and nongovernmental organizations, and explain how ecotourism and other conservation-focused enterprises support efforts to protect the two mountain gorilla populations.

This perfect blend of intimate photography, thought-provoking scholarship, and engaging stories demonstrates the inexorable ties among the animals, environment, and peoples of the region, and makes clear why the continued existence of the Virunga and Bwindi gorillas is so important. Mountain Gorillas features stunning photos and four appendices documenting key biological and ecological information, habitat vegetation, milestones in mountain gorilla conservation, and travel information.

Customer Reviews (8)

The book you need before seeing the gorillas
There are plenty of text heavy books on the market about African wildlife, and many with pretty pictures that give a sense of place without any real information about the wildlife or the challenges faced by the continent's animals.

This book manages to combine both. It has pertinent information about conservation but is not all grim reading, enlivened by Gene Eckhart's superb photography.

If you are heading to Central Africa to see the gorillas, this is the book you simply must have.

Peter Allison
Author
Whatever You Do, Don't Run: True Tales of a Botswana Safari Guide

mountain gorillas:biology, conservation and coexistance

In February of this year I was "up the mountain" visiting the Gorillas and it was absolutely wonderful, so I was wanting a book that I could relate to in text and pictures and this is it. An amazing book. I can show parts of this book to people and say, "I was there"!! The photography is brilliant. Thank you.

Amazing Book
This is an amazing book especially for the price. It is full of beautiful photos and information. This is by far the best book on Gorillas I have seen.

A Instant Classic!!
A superb and up to date account of the mountain gorilla. The pictures alone are worth the price of admission!! The text is excellent and detailed but very readable for all. I have read alot of books on the mountain gorilla and I have enjoyed them all, but I must say, that this is one of the best.

Great Photography
This book is full of photos that draw you in to the world of mountain gorillas. Their story is really amazing and Eckhart and Lanjouw tell it well. This book is great for anyone who enjoys good photography or is looking for a great cause to get behind. ... Read more

Product Description

Part of Prentice Hall's Primate Field Studies series.  Apes of the Impenetrable Forest (The Behavioral Ecology of Sympatiric Chimpanzees and Gorillas) offers students a scholary and relevant study.

Customer Reviews (1)

not all that good
i found this book to be informative but not so much about the two apes the author's title suggested were going to be the focus of the work. it was unorthodox in the sense that his goals and research objectives were not clearly defined.it seems sort of scattered and the author goes off into anecdotes that have no real impact on the study.i see how they might be relevant, but he devotes pages to things of that sort (the story of mitch being taken hostage for example.it's relevant and entertaining but not important to the overall project.he could've summed it up or stated the fact that he was taken as a reason for concerns of safety and as that being one of the reasons for not wanting to continue the project).More time in the book seems to be disproportionately devoted to chimpanzees than gorillas.there is a section devoted to both chimps and gorillas that has information about each and seems like the book could've done w/o that section also or just a basic summary because he did have info relevant to the book but he also had a lot of things that were of no use to the reader (unless they are reading this book for fun and actually care about what's in it but even still it takes the focus away from the book and makes it difficult to see what he is hoping to achieve in his study).his reasoning for the project becomes clearer by the end of the book (seems as though he is looking at the sympatricy, if that's even a word, as a basis for trying to understand how early hominids could've coexisted).his conclusions are scattered also, it takes a great deal of reading to realize what he is trying to say instead of him just putting it bluntly.the preface gives almost no information about the nature of his project and the first few chapters do not do the reader justice in trying to understand where the book is headed.just seems like he did a poor job in arranging the book, could've been a lot better.but as i said before it is informative just not all that fun to read.this is a 100 or so page book that could've been written more concisely (probably 40-50 pages) and would've been more purposeful. ... Read more

Book Description
An informative series that provides, in a concise format, better understanding of animals and their habitats. Fascinating in its diversity, the natural world comes to life on the pages of these spec tacularly illustrated volumes.

Gorillas are one of our nearest relatives in the animal kingdom, yet they are often misunderstood, with an entirely undeserved reputation for being aggressive. With spectacular photographs and informative text, this volume provides a new understanding of these extraordinary creatures. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Beautiful gorilla book for young and old
Any gorilla lover will appreciate this book for its beautiful photography and information about the species.It is not meant to be an exhaustive tome for gorilla studies. Rather, the author provides an intimate glimpse of the endangered mountain gorilla and introduces the casual reader to a basic knowledge, such asthe three species of gorilla and the threat facing their diminishing population.

It's a must have and makes a great gift for an adult or a child interested in gorillas. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A man who knows his gorillas
This is a very rewarding reading! Dixson sure has done some great work and he didn't forget any details, still chose well from the plentiful information and doesn't bore us in a single page. Although the book has been written some time ago and many questions it raises have in the meantime been answered by new technologies, the content stays actual. Most impressive how Dixson faces the task of presenting often rather boring results (comparison of physiology of different primates) in a manner that resembles a science fiction book. If you want to learn a lot about gorillas without having the feeling of actually doing 'study' work, you shouldn't miss that book! ... Read more

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Describes the characteristics of gorillas and how mother gorillas living in zoos are taught to care for their babies. ... Read more

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Experience and research in the African jungles at the end of the 19th Century. With illustrations from photographs. ... Read more

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Even though the gorilla is our closest living relative, information about its anatomy, and particularly its musculature, is scarce. This book is the first photographic and descriptive musculoskeletal atlas of the gorilla. It includes high-quality photographs of musculoskeletal structures from most anatomical regions of the body, along with textual information about the attachments, innervations, and weight of the reported muscles. The atlas is an up-to-date review of the anatomical variations within gorillas as well as an extensive list of the synonyms used in the literature to designate the structures covered in the book. It also contains dissection observations of other primates and vertebrates, which are crucial for examining and understanding the homologies between the muscular structures of gorillas, humans, and other taxa.

Product Description
High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Bili Ape, also Bondo Mystery Ape, is the name given to a large primate that inhabits Bili Forest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The apes nest on the ground like gorillas but have a diet and features characteristic of chimpanzees, according to a National Geographic report. While preliminary genetic testing with non-nuclear DNA indicate a close relationship with the Eastern Chimpanzee Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii subspecies of the Common Chimpanzee, a range of behaviors that are more closely related to those of gorillas have greatly intrigued primatologists from around the globe. The mixture of traits has led to questions of taxonomic classification. Initial results from mitochondrial DNA analysis of fecal samples indicate that the 'mystery ape' is a chimpanzee, although it may be a fifth sub-species. ... Read more

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Ages 6 to 12 years. In the African wilderness, mountain gorillas are severely threatened. These gentle giants are the largest of all the apes, living in family groups that fascinate scientists and enthusiasts alike. This appealing and timely book uses clear, attractive photographs to illuminate text on such topics as: mountain habitats; the life cycle of a mountain gorilla; the social structure of gorilla family groups; threats of disease; dangers of poaching, civil war, and habitat loss. ... Read more

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Journey to Africa and learn all about gorillas with this engaging day-to-day safari 'journal', written as though you were really there. Follow a family of gorillas living in their natural habitat and observe their daily activities with the help of your own personal guide. This highly informative book teaches children about these fascinating and endangered animals, exploring their complex social behaviour and how they survive in their shrinking habitat, as well as their relationship with human beings. A combination of fascinating facts, 'hand-written' diary entries, high-quality sketches and beautiful photographs gives the unique feel of a real-life journal. This environmentally-aware series is designed to appeal through a first-person narrative format that will encourage children to think about vulnerable animals and endangered species, focusing on what we can do to help preserve the environment and how we can protect these beautiful animals. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an OCR edition without illustrations or index. It may have numerous typos or missing text. However, purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original rare book from the publisher's website (GeneralBooksClub.com). You can also preview excerpts of the book there. Purchasers are also entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Original Published by: Osgood, McIlvaine in 1896 in 296 pages; Subjects: Gorilla; Chimpanzees; Gabon; Gorillas; Congo (Democratic Republic); Juvenile Nonfiction / Animals / Apes ... Read more

Product Description
Chapters: Apes From Language Studies, Famous Apes, Famous Chimpanzees, Famous Gorillas, Famous Monkeys, Koko, Ham the Chimp, Nim Chimpsky, Kasakela Chimpanzee Community, Bubbles, Travis, Great Ape Language, Britches, Cheeta, Gibraltar Barbary Macaques, Jiggs, Oliver, List of Apes, Monkeys in Space, Washoe, Gargantua, Chantek, Snowflake, Kanzi, Bobo, Pogo, H'angus, J. Fred Muggs, Maggie the Monkey, Jambo, Michael, Titus, Congo, Charles the Gorilla, Rally Monkey, Ah Meng, Whiplash the Cowboy Monkey, Colo, Lucy Temerlin, Bokito, Guy the Gorilla, Max, Babec, Gordo, Enos, Panzee and Panbanisha, List of Monkeys, Bedtime for Bonzo, Binti Jua, Jenny, Nonja, One Small Step: the Story of the Space Chimps, Willie B., Lana, Ramu, Ken Allen, Sultan, Loulis, Sam, Sarah, Julius, Massa, Santino, Gregoire, Pankun, Jumoke, Bonnie, Vicki, Nonja, Gua, Nyota, Manis, Tonda, Natasha, Ai, Ayumu, Toto, Azy, Phoebe B. Beebe, Matthew Hiasl Pan. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 316. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt:Ai (born in 1976) is a female chimpanzee currently living at the Primate Research Institute of Kyoto University (acronym KUPRI). She is known for being the principal subject of the Ai project , a research program started in 1978 which is aimed at understanding chimpanzee cognition through computer interface experiments. The Ai project includes tests for numerical competency, color-to-symbol matching ability, and audio-to-image matching and recognition. Over the years, the Ai project has grown to include a 14 member community of chimpanzees (including Ai's 9 year old son, Ayumu ) who reside in a state of the art facility at KUPRI.See also (online edition) Websites (URLs online) A hyperlinked version of this chapter is at Azy , (pronounced AY-zee) is a 33-year-old male orangutan . He was born at Smithsonian s National Zoological Park ... ... Read more

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High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! An apeis any member of the Hominoidea superfamily of primates. Due to its ambiguous nature, the term apeis less suitable as a means of describing taxonomic relationships. Under the current classification system there are two families of hominoids : the family Hylobatidae consists of 4 genera and 14 species of gibbon, including the Lar Gibbon and the Siamang, collectively known as the lesser apes. The family Hominidae consisting of chimpanzees, gorillas, humans and orangutans collectively known as the great apes. A few other primates, such as the Barbary Ape, have the word apein their common names (usually to indicate lack of a tail), but they are not regarded as true apes. Except for gorillas and humans, all true apes are agile climbers of trees. They are best described as omnivorous, their diet consisting of fruit, including grass seeds, and in most cases other animals, either hunted or scavenged, along with anything else available and easily digested. They are native to Africa and Asia, although humans have spread to all parts of the world. ... Read more

Product Description
Andrew Grant, former managing director of the London Zoo, draws on research, interviews and experience to illuminate hundreds of fascinating details on the wild gorilla, one of our closest relatives. Heavily illustrated with witty graphic-novel styled illustrations, Nearly Human captures the nearly-human behaviors of the wild gorilla in a fun and engaging manner. And, by looking closely at the wonders of the gorilla, Grant's work suggests taking a closer look at ourselves. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Mediocre, unfocused and somewhat disappointing
I'm somewhat of a geek for animal profile books, so when a book that combined gorilla behavior with "graphic novel" qualities, I was excited. The book disappoints though. The prose is uneven - Grant can't seem to decide if he wants to be lighthearted and fun or more "scientific" and educational. The intended audience is fuzzy as well - sometimes the reader could be an eleven-year-old, sometimes a CEO. Often the information presented is more anecdotal than precise, which isn't what I want in a book of this type. Give me stories sure, but make them meaningful and full of those tidbits I can't find on Google. When I hear "graphic novel" I also expect more polished illustrations. These sketches are also uneven and tend to be silly - I don't need my gorilla's to spout uninspired domestic dialogue.

WOW! Great Book
Nearly Human is a hybrid of self help, natural history and zoology referenced with modern day facts in an amusing and easy to read book. Grant explains what we can learn from the Gorilla's behavior and environment and how to apply it to our lives. From our daily diet to long term parenting skills it seems we have much to learn from these amazing animals. One concludes that their survival is of the utmost importance.

Entertaining Guide to Gorillas
Andrew Y. Grant's Nearly Human is an entertaining exploration of the many similarities between people and gorillas. It's a quick read -- I finished it in a week or so at an hour a day (and I am not the only non-skimmer in the immediate family). The text is liberally illustrated with black-and-white drawings, many of gorillas in very "human" poses captioned with text of one might be saying to the other.

Though the text is concise, the book is certainly not light on content. There is an appendix describing, for example, the differences between the different subspecies in greater detail than the earlier text. And though the gorilla is endangered, Grant keeps a generally calm -- even upbeat -- tone through most of the book, and provodes a list of conservation groups (with links) for those interested in helping out. There's also a thourough bibliography giving chapter-by-chapter references.

Caveat: I had an advanced reader's copy, which contained many, many typoes and used a very annoying Courieresque typeface. The index and a good portion of the art were also clearly missing (with "art to come" placeholders); I hope that the errors and the typeface were fixed when the index and art were put in.

Cross-posted from:
* LibraryThing (http://www.librarything.com/review/22332049) and
* my blog (http://theloopweaver.blogspot.com/2007/11/book-review-andrew-y-grants-nearly.html).

Fascinating comparisons
This book is a very quick read: it only took a couple hours. It's also a fun and interesting read. The cover illustration is a clever takeoff on the famous Leonardo da Vinci image of a man standing inside a circle, but done with a gorilla, and its quite different proportions.

The author has been an executive at the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park, the London Zoo, and other Southern California theme parks. It appears he doesn't work directly with the animals, though he has had many opportunities to work with those who do.

The text itself is aimed at an interested but non-specialist audience. The parallels between gorilla and human are explicitly spelled out. Information on gorilla diet, for instance, is accompanied by similar statistics about human diets, and even has an example of a day of human food that emulates the gorilla approach to nutrition.

There are chapters on child rearing, communication, the silverback's leadership style, and how the gorilla child grows up. The book concludes with a plea to aid in the conservation of the gorilla. There is an outline of gorilla evolution, and of the last almost two hundred years, in which modern man first found that these gentle giants even exist. There is also a short description of each of the three main subspecies. I was shocked to find that there are fewer than 400 mountain gorillas left, and only a few thousand of the others.

The science appears sound, there are citations for the evidence the author presents, and a lot of good sources in the bibliography. The illustrations are charming. On the down side, I hope more proof-reading will be done, because the typos were distracting.

I recommend this book as an introduction to the life of the wild gorilla, and hope it may spark an interest in readers to delve a bit deeper into the references the author provides.

Nearly Gorilla: The Human's Guide!
I must confess, it's partly because my initials are KK that I've always had a certain fascination with King Kong and the gorilla. Ever since the big screen was filled with the giant ape, I have often speculated about their evolutionary connection with humans and what their lives are truly like. I mean, how do King and Queen Kong make love, for example? Or what massive amount of food do these massive creatures consume (they're vegetarians)? Here and now, Andrew Grant fills us in on the entire story -- the real story of the gorilla. A fascinating chronicle which will smash the mirror of your preconceived notions. This is certainly everything you ever wanted to know about gorilla's.....and a lot more. The education is vast, thorough and full of surprises. Every school should use this small volume as a required textbook. And that's one of Nearly Human's strongest points: it can be read and enjoyed by virtually anyone with a thirst for knowledge of the natural world. It's even fully illustrated, indexed, and annotated. Besides, it's a delightful read!

Beyond the astonishing ethnography of the various gorilla species it portrays, there are strong messages. First, of course, is the means by which this evolutionary cousin can peacefully thrive successfully in the wild in a social organization which functions perfectly well without things, money, cell phones, the internet, television, or any of the many accoutrements of civilization. Secondly, that we can learn a great deal from them on many levels - from their diet, their child-rearing skills and leadership qualities, to their social and psychological make-up.In this regard, the book could have been titled Nearly Gorilla: the Human's Guide to Good Living. We can certainly learn a lot about living on planet Earth from the gorilla. Third, that human's represent their greatest threat -- as we are killing them off to the point of near-extinction. In this regard, the plight of the gorilla is symptomatic of the rapid ecocide human's are participating in during our indiscriminate scramble for material wealth and power. Mr. Grant's book serves as a clarion call for saving the gorilla from extinction, along with the thousands of other species which are being exterminated each year. Such lovely creates! How dare we eviscerate one of our closest living relatives?

Nearly Human is a wonderful read, a fascinating feast for the curious mind.
... Read more

Product Description
Without scientific training but with abundant determination, Dian Fossey persuaded the eminent Louis Leakey to send her to Africa to study the last remaining mountain gorillas.

Fossey, always extreme, was what you call "hands on." She virtually lived with the gorillas, slowly earning their trust. However, the closer to anthropoids, the farther from humans. More militant each year, she antagonized friends and earned enemies. In the end they killed her.

"Only the author's disciplined research, compassionate heart and inspired prose could have made us understand how one woman saved the animals that she loved so much." --Diane McMeekin, African Wildlife Foundation ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Would not recommend
If you are looking for any information on Dian Fossey's work with her beloved mountain gorillas please give this book a pass. I did not learn a thing about the gorillas or Dian's work until I picked up Woman in the Mists by Farley Mowat. The Dark Romance of Dian Fossey is nothing more than salacious gossip most of which is uncited!Truly awful!

Not a typical scientist. . .
"Dark Romance" is a reporter's account of the life of Dian Fossey, an amazing woman with no scientific background or training, whose troubled early life provided no hint that she would become a ground breaking researcher in Africa. This book is not for those who are interested in the gorillas--Hayes mentions them often enough, but only in relation to Dian, her ties to them, how they drove her behavior towards others.

Fossey was mercurial and impossible to work with, in bad health with a serious alcohol problem, close to very few people, and given to fabricating stories about herself. Hayes reports all this dutifully, but I was disappointed that he doesn't offer many insights of his own. Often he'll present multiple versions of a story but not an opinion on which seems most likely to be true.

But this doesn't take away from this truly amazing story. This young woman simply decided that studying the gorillas would be her life's work, and gave her life to do just that. It's not surprising that given her rather unstable personality to start with, and after years of working in relative isolation, she became more attached to her subjects than other human beings, and her story ends sadly. Her increasing paranoia about preserving the gorillas in their natural state to the exclusion of all else leads her to acts of brutality and torture towards poachers that are painful to read about. And her own physical and mental deterioration is sad but seems inevitable. It is amazing that she accomplished what she did against such overwhelming odds.

Some object to the exposure of the seamier side of life in Africa, but I found it understandable given the conditions, and the struggles in the personal lives of these people make their accomplishments all the more admirable. I haven't read "Gorillas in the Mist" but I suspect when I do it will be even more fascinating for having read Hayes' book.

Eye opener
I found this to be an interesting and insightful book. There were many surprises about the life of Dian Fossey. I have to say that I came away with less respect for her (and a few others mentioned) The roughshod treatment and callous disregard of the native people was disturbing to me. I believe she was not truly up to the job although she did seem to care deeply for the gorillas and that came through clearly in the book. The sexual shenanigans that went on reminded me of a sleazy soap opera. Somehow I expected more professionalism from those involved. One can only ponder why the wives mentioned would accept such behavior. This is a well written book that manages to hold ones attention throughout and is worth reading. ... Read more