A Chimp in the Family: The True Story Of Two Infants--One Human, One Chimpanzee--Growing Up Together [Paperback]

Vince Smith (Author)

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Product Details

Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Da Capo Press (Mar 15 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 156924460X
ISBN-13: 978-1569244609
Product Dimensions: 20.6 x 13.8 x 2.4 cm
Shipping Weight: 422 g
Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #966,237 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Product Description

From Publishers Weekly

Sophie, a chimp, was orphaned when her mother rejected her at the Chester zoo in England. In this engrossing story, Smith, Sophie's foster "parent," takes readers on a fascinating interspecies journey of love, heartache and the frustrations and joys of primatology. Smith and his wife, Audrey, raised Sophie alongside their baby son, Oliver, in the early 1990s-and the two even share teething pains. Smith eventually takes the family to Kenya, where he works for Sweetwaters Game Reserve Ranch to set up a chimp sanctuary. In the role of loving foster parent, Smith even goes so far as to eat termites to try to wean Sophie onto a diet closer to that of her closest biological relatives. Readers also get stories of biting safari ants, lion attacks, garden-raiding elephants, African politics and, of course, chimpanzees, who are 98.4% genetically similar to humans. Eloquently arguing that chimps have their own type of culture, Smith shows that chimps self-medicate to rid themselves of parasites, groom each other and use tools; Sophie uses an acacia thorn to remove a splinter from Oliver's foot. While much of Sophie's story is tragic, Smith's humor and insights make for a heartfelt read.
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Book Description

In 1990, when Vince Smith—currently manager of the Diane Fossey Gorilla Fund's mountain gorilla conservation program— was working as a senior keeper at Chester Zoo in the English countryside, a newborn chimpanzee in his care was abandoned by her mother. Named Sophie, the infant chimp was taken home and hand-reared by Vince and his wife. Six months later another new baby arrived: Oliver, their son. A Chimp in the Family is the compelling and entertaining account of Sophie's life. Vince Smith vividly describes the parallel upbringing of Sophie and Oliver—through her early years with Vince and his family, her traumatic journey back to the zoo and her unsuccessful efforts to socialize with other chimps, her repatriation to Africa and reunion with her human foster family, and her integration in a semi-wild group of chimpanzees. A book both humorous (a family outing with both babies to the local pizzeria) and ultimately heartbreaking, A Chimp in the Family provides fascinating photographs and insights into the nature of our closest-living relatives—as well as the nature of human development.

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Amazon.com: 5.0 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews)

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Unsentimental and touching, Aug 20 2004

By Daniel A. Richman "danrichman" - Published on Amazon.com

This review is from: A Chimp in the Family: The True Story Of Two Infants--One Human, One Chimpanzee--Growing Up Together (Paperback)

this book proved far better than many similar works about raising baby animals. it is well written and not excessively sentimental or anthropomorphic, though the author does discuss the close relationship between chimps and humans, genetically and behaviorally.

be prepared: it has an unhappy ending.

definitely worth a read.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!, Mar 3 2006

By Whippet "voracious reader" - Published on Amazon.com

This review is from: A Chimp in the Family: The True Story Of Two Infants--One Human, One Chimpanzee--Growing Up Together (Paperback)

This is a profoundly touching book. You will feel a lot of very strong emotions of all kinds reading it, and the end is devastating. Smith does a great job showing us the great spirit and soul of Sophie. My wife and I felt his loss keenly, and had tears. The pictures alone are worth the price of the book. Highly recommended.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The unique account of rearing two babies side by side, Dec 5 2004

By Midwest Book Review - Published on Amazon.com

This review is from: A Chimp in the Family: The True Story Of Two Infants--One Human, One Chimpanzee--Growing Up Together (Paperback)

A Chimp in the Family is the true story of an ecologist and conservationist who took an infant chimpanzee into his home when she was abandoned by her mother. Six months later, his son was born. A Chimp in the Family is the unique account of rearing two babies side by side as one's own kin. Offering heartfelt tales of struggling with infant care and the milestones of early childhood, A Chimp in the Family also offers the unique difficulties in attempting to persuade a hand-reared chimpanzee to socialize with others of its kind. Happiness and heartbreak blend in A Chimp in the Family, which details social and emotional bonds between humans and animals from an intensely personal point of view.

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 4 reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars