"The fascinating and engaging story of two baby gorillas being raised by hand so they can rejoin their family troop at Bristol Zoo. "
Zookeeper turned author Alan Toyne allows behind the scenes access to Bristol Zoo’s family of gorillas and their keepers in this heartfelt and eye-opening book. While this story centres on the two babies he helps to hand-raise, you encounter the whole troop of gorillas including silverback Jock. Perhaps the most poignant story is of Kera, the mother of Afia, who was hand-raised at another facility and had such a difficult time settling in at Bristol as she didn’t understand adult gorilla behaviour. So, you witness the reasons why the keepers attempt the reintroduction of the two babies, Afia and Hasani, back into the troop as soon as they are old enough. You also gain an understanding of why zoos are so important for animals as their wild areas around the world are decimated, and have thoughts thoroughly provoked by the differences between captivity and conservation. Life as a gorilla keeper is incredibly hard work as well as rewarding, and as Alan explains, you have to have the right temperament and inbuilt sense of safety, as well as an understanding of the social behaviour of the gorillas. This isn’t just about the gorgeous baby gorillas, while there are lots of ‘ahh’ moments, there are some sad and emotional times too. I found the insight into the social behaviour absolutely fascinating, particularly when I realised that some of the gorillas were training the keepers as much as the other way round. Rewarding and inspiring, Gorillas in Our Midst highlights the importance of championing the continued existence of these amazing primates.
| Primary Genre | Nature and the natural world: general interest |
| Other Genres: | |
| Recommendations: |
Step into the fascinating world of Bristol Zoo with Alan Toyne, a dedicated zookeeper and primate expert whose extraordinary story of hand-rearing two baby gorillas will warm your heart.
When Afia, a newborn Western Lowland Gorilla, is rejected by her mother Kera after a difficult birth, her human keepers must start the challenging - but rewarding - experience of hand-rearing her themselves.
Teaching her the ropes of life in the Gorilla House at Bristol Zoo is tricky enough. But providing 24/7 care for a baby gorilla means Alan must hand-rear Afia in his own home too, an experience that forges a remarkable emotional bond between the two of them over the course of many sleepless nights.
Soon a second baby gorilla, Hasani, is facing rejection from his mother, and Alan and his colleagues must embark on a daring mission to train Kera - now recovered but socially isolated - to become Hasani's surrogate mother.
Can she learn to protect and love Hasani as her own, in a way she couldn't for Afia? Can she find her maternal instincts and claim a place within the troop at last?
With a vibrant cast of characters - from the volatile Silverback Jock to the mysterious Sal and the stately Romi - Gorillas in Our Midst offers a unique glimpse into the intricate world of primate social dynamics, in all their complicated, human-like glory. More than just a behind-the-scenes look at zoo life, this thought-provoking and heart-warming memoir is a testament to the enduring bonds between humans and animals, and to the power of resilience and compassion.
Gorillas in Our Midst features in the following genres: Non-Fiction Books of the Month, Recommendations, Biographies & Autobiographies, Nature and the natural world: general interest, Popular Science, Memoirs, Zoology: primates (primatology), Ethology and animal behaviour, True stories: general
Gorillas in Our Midst is available in Paperback
Gorillas in Our Midst was written by Alan Toyne and published by Summersdale
Gorillas in Our Midst has 336 pages
£9.89
