Andrew Westoll spent months at Fauna Sanctuary, a refuge for thirteen chimps rescued from a research lab, as a volunteer caregiver. In The Chimps of Fauna Sanctuary, Westoll vividly recounts his adventures in the chimp house and the heart-wrenching histories of its residents. He arrives with dreams of striking up an immediate friendship with the legendary Tom, a father figure to the rest of the chimps. Tom proves the greatest teacher to the indomitable Gloria Grow, who presides over the sanctuary. Through Westoll’s eyes, we witness the chimps’ remarkable recovery first-hand. Simple things like establishing friendships, nurturing alliances, grooming one another and playing games of tickle-chase are all poignant testament to the capacity of these animals to heal—and to learn how to be chimps again.
The Chimps of Fauna Sanctuary
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About the Author
ANDREW WESTOLL is an award-winning narrative journalist and internationally published author. A former biologist and primatologist, his first book, The Riverbones, is a travel memoir set in the jungles of Suriname, where he once lived as a monkey researcher. Andrew now lives and writes in Toronto. Visit him at www.andrewwestoll.com.
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Most helpful customer reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This wonderful book will reach into the heart of the reader and bring about a gamut of emotions. I laughed at the author's interactions with the chimps, cried at their stories and evidence of psychological damage done to them at the hands of humans and marveled at their amazing capacity to trust humans again. This book clearly shows the many similarities between these apes and ourselves. They are so much like us yet have been treated so poorly. Andrew Westoll shows us that despite their treatment these chimps can touch our heart and look into our souls like no other animal on earth. This is definitely a read again and again book.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Foodcoach
Format:Hardcover
As difficult as it for me, as it is for any animal lover, to read about the cruelty that humans can impose on our chimpanzee cousins, I am grateful that Westoll wrote this book. It is a glimpse into the heart of the chimps and those who care for and love them. It is painful to imagine the details of the trauma that these and other experimental chimps endure. We need this book, and as many people as possible to read it, to bring to light the inhumanity of what goes on behind closed lab doors.
Gloria Grow, the woman who co-founded Fauna, speaks about how people need to have something that they care about and are willing to fight for outside of themselves. She is an inspiration in her passion and fight for the chimps. But the stars of the book are the chimps themselves with their traumatized and gloriously authentic personalities.
Westoll mentioned something earlier on in the book about how people, when they come into contact with the chimps, see reflections of themselves at a primal level. I found myself consistently making comparisons between the limitations and capacities of humans and apes and how even in the midst of the scars of mistreatment and the cruelty that we are capable of, there is the possibility for healing and love to flourish. It is redemption at its finest.
The only negative that I would mention, and it is minor, is that I struggled to get a clear picture in my mind of the how the sanctuary is laid out - I needed a visual image of how the caretaker humans and chimps were connecting. Some more detailed photos would have helped.
Gloria Grow, the woman who co-founded Fauna, speaks about how people need to have something that they care about and are willing to fight for outside of themselves. She is an inspiration in her passion and fight for the chimps. But the stars of the book are the chimps themselves with their traumatized and gloriously authentic personalities.
Westoll mentioned something earlier on in the book about how people, when they come into contact with the chimps, see reflections of themselves at a primal level. I found myself consistently making comparisons between the limitations and capacities of humans and apes and how even in the midst of the scars of mistreatment and the cruelty that we are capable of, there is the possibility for healing and love to flourish. It is redemption at its finest.
The only negative that I would mention, and it is minor, is that I struggled to get a clear picture in my mind of the how the sanctuary is laid out - I needed a visual image of how the caretaker humans and chimps were connecting. Some more detailed photos would have helped.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Christine
Format:Hardcover
This book brings to light the plight of chimps used in medical research settings.
It was disturbing to read what the chimps were subjected to but the book revolves mainly
on their recovery at the sanctuary. I am grateful for having read this book and even more
so to the author for raising awareness on the matter. God bless the author and all the volunteers at
the Fauna sanctuary.
It was disturbing to read what the chimps were subjected to but the book revolves mainly
on their recovery at the sanctuary. I am grateful for having read this book and even more
so to the author for raising awareness on the matter. God bless the author and all the volunteers at
the Fauna sanctuary.
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4.5 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Entertaining, funny and touching
The personalities of the chimps are described with fondness and respect. The effects of years of undergoing medical testing brought me to tears.
Published 3 days ago by Patti Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars
Chimps of Fauna Sanctuary
Absolutely fantastic read. The reader develops an intimate relationship with the chimps and the story of their lives. Sad, funny and touching.
Published 26 days ago by Nellie Dale
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Chimps of Fauna Sanctuary
I loved this tear jerking book. How can people treat these almost human creatures so cruelly? Pulling babies from their mothers just when they are newly born? Read more
Published 3 months ago by A. Strickland-clark
5.0 out of 5 stars
Conflicted
I was in turn elated, broken hearted, angry and jubilant reading this book. My disappointment in the well educated medical people doing the things they did to these apes was huge. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Dawn E. Durnin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Un livre merveilleux
Depuis que je suis toute petite, j'adore les chimpanzés, gorilles etc...
J'ai entendu parler de la Fondation Fauna il y a quelques années suite à un... Read more
J'ai entendu parler de la Fondation Fauna il y a quelques années suite à un... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Joanne Sanscartier
4.0 out of 5 stars
Moving and well-written
I was surprised not to have seen this book reviewed, or heard about it previously. It was recommended by someone in my book group who has worked at Fauna sanctuary. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Cannuck
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brillant - a must-read
Just finished reading The Chimps of Fauna Sanctuary. Like any great book, you won't want it to end. Brilliantly paced - Andrew Westoll does a great job of telling the often funny... Read more
Published 7 months ago by A. Naidoo
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Chimps of Fauna Sanctuary
One of the best books I've ever read! Andrew Westoll describes the horrors of chimpanzee research and the amazing rescue work of Fauna. Read more
Published 8 months ago by YdS
5.0 out of 5 stars
chimps of Fauna Sanctuary
This book made me cry. I saw this sanctuary on T.V. and feel in love with all the chimps. What a wonderful story? I want to donate to this sanctuary after reading the book. Read more
Published 13 months ago by fran
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Chimps captivate.
Andrew Westoll's passion for his subject is what brings this book to life. He draws you in with confidence in your intelligence and humanity and walks you through the chimps'... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Katherine Poulin
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