IN THE KINGDOM OF GORILLAS - [signed] FRAGILE SPECIES IN A DANGEROUS LAND

by AND AMY VEDDER WEBER BILL

When Bill Weber and Amy Vedder arrived in Rwanda to study mountain gorillas with Dian Fossey, the gorilla population was teetering toward extinction. Poaching was rampant, but it was loss of habitat that most endangered the gorillas. Weber and Vedder realized that the gorillas were doomed unless something was done to save their forest home. Over Fossey's objections, they helped found the Mountain Gorilla Project, which would inform Rwandans about the gorillas and the importance of conservation, while at the same time establishing an ecotourism project -- one of the first anywhere in a rainforest -- to bring desperately needed revenue to Rwanda. In the Kingdom of Gorillas introduces readers to entire families of gorillas, from powerful silverback patriarchs to helpless newborn infants. Weber and Vedder take us with them as they slog through the rain-soaked mountain forests, observing the gorillas at rest and at play. Today the population of mountain gorillas is the highest it has been since the 1960s, and there is new hope for the species' fragile future even as the people of Rwanda strive to overcome ethnic and political differences.

Genres: Africa, Nature, Nonfiction, Rwanda

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Jay Stocki · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you were ever a fan of the Dian Fossey story, or watched any of the numerous documentaries on her efforts, this is a must-read.

Dian broke new ground on the human understanding of gorillas. It was the researchers after her, however, who created the theory that for the poaching to stop and the gorilla habitat to be preserved, the local community had to benefit. Their efforts to enable an entire tourism ecosystem to fund the stability of the region is the reason these gorillas are thriving today. I was fortunate enough to read this while visiting the gorillas in Rwanda. To understand the history, and to compare what has happened in Rwanda vs. the DRC, gives me some hope in humanity's ability to coexist with other species. I just hope the DRC can figure it out before it's too late.

[Angela Schmangela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comprehensive and insightful. It’s rare for a book this length to take me almost 3 weeks to read. However, reading about the recent history of Rwanda along with animal conservation is tough and I needed to take a break every now and then.

[Taunya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful photos and great information!

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three stars because of it's very interesting history of Rwanda and the Gorilla Tourism that the authors started. Slow reading at times.

[Hammonrs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly good follow up to "Year of the Gorilla" and "Gorilla's in the Mist".