The Chimps of Fauna Sanctuary: A True Story of Resilience and RecoveryThe “moving” true story of a woman fighting to give a group of chimpanzees a second chance at life (People). In 1997, Gloria Grow started a sanctuary for chimps retired from biomedical research on her farm outside Montreal. For the indomitable Gloria, caring for thirteen great apes is like presiding over a maximum-security prison, a Zen sanctuary, an old folks’ home, and a New York deli during the lunchtime rush all rolled into one. But she is first and foremost creating a refuge for her troubled charges, a place where they can recover and begin to trust humans again. Hoping to win some of this trust, journalist Andrew Westoll spent months at Fauna Farm as a volunteer, and in this “incisive [and] affecting” book, he vividly recounts his time in the chimp house and the histories of its residents (Kirkus Reviews). He arrives with dreams of striking up an immediate friendship with the legendary Tom, the wise face of the Great Ape Protection Act, but Tom seems all too content to ignore him. Gradually, though, old man Tommie and the rest of the “troop” begin to warm toward Westoll as he learns the routines of life at the farm and realizes just how far the chimps have come. Seemingly simple things like grooming, establishing friendships and alliances, and playing games with the garden hose are all poignant testament to the capacity of these animals to heal. Brimming with empathy and entertaining stories of Gloria and her charges, The Chimps of Fauna Sanctuary is an absorbing, bighearted book that grapples with questions of just what we owe to the animals who are our nearest genetic relations. “A powerful look at how we treat our closest relatives.” —The Plain Dealer “I knew the prison-like conditions of the medical research facility from which Gloria rescued these chimpanzees; when I visited them at their new sanctuary I was moved to tears. . . . Andrew Westoll is a born storyteller: The Chimps of Fauna Sanctuary, written with empathy and skill, tenderness and humour, involves us in a world few understand. And leaves us marveling at the ways in which chimpanzees are so like us, and why they deserve our help and are entitled to our respect.” —Dr. Jane Goodall “This book will make you think deeply about our relationship with great apes. It amazed me to discover the behaviors and feelings of the chimpanzees.” —Temple Grandin, author of Animals in Translation |
Other editions - View all
The Chimps of Fauna Sanctuary: A True Story of Resilience and Recovery Andrew Westoll No preview available - 2011 |
The Chimps of Fauna Sanctuary: A True Story of Resilience and Recovery Andrew Westoll No preview available - 2012 |
Common terms and phrases
animal rights animals Annie apes arrived at Fauna began begin Billy Binky Binky’s biomedical research bonobos building cage captive Chance chim chimpan chimpanzees chimphouse chimps chimps of Fauna Cyndi dart gun Dawna Deborah Fouts door Eeyore Ellen enclosure eyes face farm Fauna Fauna sanctuary feet fingers floor Frans de Waal GAPA grab grooming hand hepatitis Hoodlums human inside invasive research islands Jane Goodall Jeannie Jeannie’s Room Jethro kitchen lab techs laboratory LEMSIP Linda lives look Mahoney Mario Maya monkeys mother never panzees Pepper Petra playroom porthole pressure washer primates privacy room Puppy Rachel Reege Regis Richard Roger Fouts says Gloria screaming side sits Sky Walk smoothies soon sound Spock Spock and Maya story Susie tells thing Toby Toby’s Tom’s Tommie trauma trolley walkway watch week Yerkes Yoko zees