num_pages: 296
description: Hugging the Chimps is the fascinating story of a woman who ventures to Burundi in Central Africa to fulfill her life-long dream: to live with chimpanzees and experience first-hand what they are really like. In the midst of a brutal civil war that devastates the country and claims thelives of two fellow workers at the Jane Goodall Institute she provides tender loving care to a large group of orphaned chimpanzees who have been rescued from poachers and pet traders. Life with the chimpanzees is not all joy. The frisky youngsters frequently attack and bite fellow-apes and caretakers. A baby chimp is stillborn. A powerful escaped male launches a near fatal assault on one of the keepers. Other first-hand accounts include trips to bleak refugee camps visits to an orphanage for children from Rwanda and a weekend spent tracking wild chimpanzees through the forest. As the author gets to know her charges intimately her life-long fascination with chimpanzees turns into true love of the creatures who have more than 98% of their genes in common with man. This is an inspiring and informative story that will delight all readers especially those who love animals and tales of travel and adventure.
language: English
title: Hugging The Chimps: Adventures in Burundi
publisher: AuthorHouse