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The Last Great Ape: A Journey Through Africa and a Fight for the Heart of the Continent
An epic journey through Africa by a man who fell in love with a magical and disappearing world and then transformed himself into a warrior on the front lines to protect it.
Staging heart-pounding, espionage-style raids, Ofir Drori and his organization, The Last Great Ape (LAGA), have put countless poachers and traffickers of endangered species behind bars, and they have fought back against a Kafkaesque culture of corruption. Before Ofir arrived in Cameroon, no one had ever even tried.
The Last Great Ape follows a young Ofir on fantastical adventures as he crosses remote African lands by camel, on a horse, and in dug-out canoes, while living with exotic tribes and struggling against nature at its charging elephants and hyenas, flash floods, and the need to eat river algae and snails to stay alive. The story moves from places of extreme beauty to those of the darkest the war zones of Sierra Leone and Liberia. Ofir begins to work as a photojournalist in order to expose his shocking encounter with war victims and child soldiers. His experiences forge in him a resolution to become an activist and to fight for justice.
The search for a cause eventually leads him to Cameroon. When Ofir discovers that no one is fighting to disprove Jane Goodall's dark prophesy that apes in the wild will be extinct in twenty years, he decides that he is the man to step in; because he knows he can make a difference, he sees it as his responsibility. And LAGA is born.
The Last Great Ape is a story of the fight against extinction and the tragedy of endangered worlds, not just of animals but of people struggling to hold onto their culture. The book reveals the intense beauty and strife that exist side by side in Africa, and Ofir makes the case that activism and dedication to a cause are still relevant in a cynical modern world. This dramatic story is one of courage and hope and, most importantly, a search for meaning.
Staging heart-pounding, espionage-style raids, Ofir Drori and his organization, The Last Great Ape (LAGA), have put countless poachers and traffickers of endangered species behind bars, and they have fought back against a Kafkaesque culture of corruption. Before Ofir arrived in Cameroon, no one had ever even tried.
The Last Great Ape follows a young Ofir on fantastical adventures as he crosses remote African lands by camel, on a horse, and in dug-out canoes, while living with exotic tribes and struggling against nature at its charging elephants and hyenas, flash floods, and the need to eat river algae and snails to stay alive. The story moves from places of extreme beauty to those of the darkest the war zones of Sierra Leone and Liberia. Ofir begins to work as a photojournalist in order to expose his shocking encounter with war victims and child soldiers. His experiences forge in him a resolution to become an activist and to fight for justice.
The search for a cause eventually leads him to Cameroon. When Ofir discovers that no one is fighting to disprove Jane Goodall's dark prophesy that apes in the wild will be extinct in twenty years, he decides that he is the man to step in; because he knows he can make a difference, he sees it as his responsibility. And LAGA is born.
The Last Great Ape is a story of the fight against extinction and the tragedy of endangered worlds, not just of animals but of people struggling to hold onto their culture. The book reveals the intense beauty and strife that exist side by side in Africa, and Ofir makes the case that activism and dedication to a cause are still relevant in a cynical modern world. This dramatic story is one of courage and hope and, most importantly, a search for meaning.
282 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
33 people are currently reading
601 people want to read
About the author
Ofir Drori
2 books22 followersOfir Drori is an Israeli activist based in Central Africa. A former army officer, educator, journalist, photographer, and adventurer, he has spent the past decades in two dozen different African countries. He founded LAGA in 2003 and leads various efforts against corruption for conservation, democracy, and the rule of law.
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December 3, 2022
I didn't like this one, sadly...
Author Ofir Drori is an Israeli activist based in Central Africa. A former army officer, educator, journalist, photographer, and adventurer, he has spent the past decades in two dozen different African countries. He founded LAGA in 2003 and leads various efforts against corruption for conservation, democracy, and the rule of law.
Ofir Drori:
From the book's title, I was expecting a book about the author's work in Africa saving great apes. While he gets to that in the latter part of the book, most of the first ~half is just stories of his wandering around Africa; his interactions with locals, the police, meeting a girl, a missionary family, getting into a bus accident, etc.
I also really didn't like the writing style here. Drori writes in a somewhat frantic and jumbled manner. The book could use some serious re-formatting; for both clarity and flow. There are many run-on sentences and paragraphs that span multiple pages. Terrible... The narrative also jumps around in a somewhat impromptu manner very often, which makes it tough to follow the plot. A lot of this could have been related to the audiobook format; the narrator has a very heavy accent, and it makes the reading an arduous trek.
The author also comes across as either comically naïve, or tragically stupid many times here. An idealistic utopian vision of Africa sees this young Israeli pack his things up, and make a journey to the Dark Continent. Comedy ensues...
Among the highlights of his time in Africa - as recounted by the book:
• He wanders into dangerous parts of town, and gets beaten up by a gang of Africans early-on.
• He gets into altercations with the police, buys a horse to go trekking through the wilderness, is confronted by hippos in a river, likely causes the horse to die by taking it on a treacherous and dangerous route.
• He drinks right from rivers contaminated with parasites.
• He tries to wrestle and capture a 10ft python,
• Attempts to eat the corpse of a rancid baby hippo,
• Confronts a group of poachers, and the list goes on...
I kept waiting to laugh about the next stupid thing he did. Maybe this wasn't all bad LMAO.
Finally; I'm not sure who his target audience is here. Sadly, the book is not scientific in any sense. It is more of a travel-adventure book. And not a particularly good one, at that...
**********************
Despite chuckling to myself at various times during the writing here, I didn't enjoy this one and would have put it down if it were any longer.
1.5 stars.
Author Ofir Drori is an Israeli activist based in Central Africa. A former army officer, educator, journalist, photographer, and adventurer, he has spent the past decades in two dozen different African countries. He founded LAGA in 2003 and leads various efforts against corruption for conservation, democracy, and the rule of law.
Ofir Drori:
From the book's title, I was expecting a book about the author's work in Africa saving great apes. While he gets to that in the latter part of the book, most of the first ~half is just stories of his wandering around Africa; his interactions with locals, the police, meeting a girl, a missionary family, getting into a bus accident, etc.
I also really didn't like the writing style here. Drori writes in a somewhat frantic and jumbled manner. The book could use some serious re-formatting; for both clarity and flow. There are many run-on sentences and paragraphs that span multiple pages. Terrible... The narrative also jumps around in a somewhat impromptu manner very often, which makes it tough to follow the plot. A lot of this could have been related to the audiobook format; the narrator has a very heavy accent, and it makes the reading an arduous trek.
The author also comes across as either comically naïve, or tragically stupid many times here. An idealistic utopian vision of Africa sees this young Israeli pack his things up, and make a journey to the Dark Continent. Comedy ensues...
Among the highlights of his time in Africa - as recounted by the book:
• He wanders into dangerous parts of town, and gets beaten up by a gang of Africans early-on.
• He gets into altercations with the police, buys a horse to go trekking through the wilderness, is confronted by hippos in a river, likely causes the horse to die by taking it on a treacherous and dangerous route.
• He drinks right from rivers contaminated with parasites.
• He tries to wrestle and capture a 10ft python,
• Attempts to eat the corpse of a rancid baby hippo,
• Confronts a group of poachers, and the list goes on...
I kept waiting to laugh about the next stupid thing he did. Maybe this wasn't all bad LMAO.
Finally; I'm not sure who his target audience is here. Sadly, the book is not scientific in any sense. It is more of a travel-adventure book. And not a particularly good one, at that...
**********************
Despite chuckling to myself at various times during the writing here, I didn't enjoy this one and would have put it down if it were any longer.
1.5 stars.
September 8, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
The Last Great Ape was a rather unusual book. The author, Ofir Drori, is an Israeli photojournalist/writer who traveled to Africa while still in his teens and fell in love with the continent. He came to Kenya for three weeks in 1994 prior to his three year mandatory service in the Israeli military. After he completed his service he returned, not sure what he was going to do with the rest of his life.
The first half of the book read more like a travelogue. The story was somewhat unbelievable, he took off entirely by himself, at first with a camel, and later a horse, to really see and meet the various indigenous groups who still lived in the countryside without benefit of electricity or white/Western influence. In fact, he later abandoned that horse, leaving him on a cliff when they got into quite a precarious predicament. He nearly starved to death as he really didn’t prepare for his odyssey very well.
About half way through he seemed to finally find his calling - to create an NGO (non-government agency) to halt the illegal trafficking and murder of protected species. In the various Central African countries where he was involved the laws were in place but not enforced. Corruption was rampant. People were arrested but monetary bribes kept their criminal activities from ever being prosecuted.
After finishing the book, I looked him up, and he’s now a fairly well known activist who has expanded his activism to humanitarian issues as well. He is nearly 50 years of age now and has won a number of prestigious awards. The photos at the back of my kindle edition were quite impressive.
The ATY Goodreads Challenge - 2024
Prompt #40 - a book involving a wild animal or endangered species, in the content, title or on the cover
The Last Great Ape was a rather unusual book. The author, Ofir Drori, is an Israeli photojournalist/writer who traveled to Africa while still in his teens and fell in love with the continent. He came to Kenya for three weeks in 1994 prior to his three year mandatory service in the Israeli military. After he completed his service he returned, not sure what he was going to do with the rest of his life.
The first half of the book read more like a travelogue. The story was somewhat unbelievable, he took off entirely by himself, at first with a camel, and later a horse, to really see and meet the various indigenous groups who still lived in the countryside without benefit of electricity or white/Western influence. In fact, he later abandoned that horse, leaving him on a cliff when they got into quite a precarious predicament. He nearly starved to death as he really didn’t prepare for his odyssey very well.
About half way through he seemed to finally find his calling - to create an NGO (non-government agency) to halt the illegal trafficking and murder of protected species. In the various Central African countries where he was involved the laws were in place but not enforced. Corruption was rampant. People were arrested but monetary bribes kept their criminal activities from ever being prosecuted.
After finishing the book, I looked him up, and he’s now a fairly well known activist who has expanded his activism to humanitarian issues as well. He is nearly 50 years of age now and has won a number of prestigious awards. The photos at the back of my kindle edition were quite impressive.
The ATY Goodreads Challenge - 2024
Prompt #40 - a book involving a wild animal or endangered species, in the content, title or on the cover
April 22, 2012
Before starting to read (kindle edition) I googled Ophir and read about his impressive work ... I expected the book to be an ode to his accomplishments but instead it was an emotional journey with him as he struggled to find himself before he made his mark on the world. This personal and honest tone makes for excellent reading, and then there is of course the backdrop of Africa - beautiful always, scary and forbidden and disgusting sometimes, heartwarming a lot of times...
Highly recommended, both for the travel/adventure aspect and for inspiration.
Highly recommended, both for the travel/adventure aspect and for inspiration.
June 11, 2012
I won this on first-reads.
A book about a man with nine-lives, Ofir Drori and David McDannald leave no rock unturned. Hitting all the sensitive points of Africa's continued political instability and leaving no room for a illusion of a perfect man, we see Ofir at his lowest and his highest. Tears flowing for the boy with self-proclaimed heart of evil and heart of good, laughing at Future and his antics, and desire for a happy ending, the book leaves you bereft at the end not knowing about Rachel,but with insight that LAGA continues to change politics in Africa. Anyone with a heart soft for animals and craved for adventure should read this book.
A book about a man with nine-lives, Ofir Drori and David McDannald leave no rock unturned. Hitting all the sensitive points of Africa's continued political instability and leaving no room for a illusion of a perfect man, we see Ofir at his lowest and his highest. Tears flowing for the boy with self-proclaimed heart of evil and heart of good, laughing at Future and his antics, and desire for a happy ending, the book leaves you bereft at the end not knowing about Rachel,but with insight that LAGA continues to change politics in Africa. Anyone with a heart soft for animals and craved for adventure should read this book.
June 24, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. It is a life-long dream of mine to go to Africa and I really enjoyed reading about the cultures as well as the challenges that Ofir faced. I admire his dedication to a cause and really enjoyed reading about his struggles and journey to create a NGO. I was left reflecting about what I myself am passionate about and how passion comes about....a very thought-provoking book.
July 5, 2012
Makes other travel adventure books read like a day at the beach. I will keep track of his organization and his activism.
September 9, 2012
Brilliant, thought provoking book!! not what i would normally chose but i happily recommend it!!
November 8, 2023
This was a particularly frustrating read. Some examples:
- Volunteers spend thousands travelling to Africa to help the author save wildlife. He takes one ape from a household treating it like a pet, treats the ape as his own pet, and just has the volunteers do his laundry (instead of providing inquiring local women with income to feed their families) and paint his apartment building (without consulting the landlord). Decides it's the volunteers' fault no wildlife has been saved when they complain, and sends them all away for a fresh batch.
- Travels with a horse, it slips partway down a slope (that he knew was dangerous to travel with a load-carrying animal) to a small ledge with no way off, and he leaves it to die of thirst without trying to help.
- Talks about how incompetent peacekeeping forces are, so he goes to help a nation in crisis. He arrives with no plan, realizes he could be killed, and tries multiple times to get someone else's seat on emergency air transport out again after trapping himself. No one is sympathetic. Peacekeepers defuse the situation and restore peace in about a week. He continues to call them ineffective.
- Travels to a remote tribe known for killing anyone attempting to visit because he wants to personally congratulate them on killing Christian missionaries - because his random validation will mean so much to them? Is threatened with death when he arrives. The only Christian member of the tribe convinces everyone to let him live, lets him stay in his house, and gives him enough food, from his limited supply, for the return journey. He continues berating Christians, which includes the tribe member who is the only reason he’s still alive.
- Meets a woman who also enjoys rough travel through Africa, but tells her he wants her to go home while he travels alone. Ghosts her for a couple years. Is heartbroken upon finding out she didn’t wait for him. (This is a significant portion of the book.)
- Talks about how inexperienced the wildlife authorities are so he has to plan everything. By the end of the book he had finally participated in one raid.
And these are just some of the reasons it was difficult not to throw this book against the wall - but it was a library book, so it stayed safe.
There are some wonderful wildlife goals expressed in this book. The author certainly comes across as having an abundance of energy and passion, and the co-author seems like a great partner to help channel this energy toward their mutual goals. Hopefully their continued efforts have been benefitting apes and other wildlife in the decade since this book was released.
- Volunteers spend thousands travelling to Africa to help the author save wildlife. He takes one ape from a household treating it like a pet, treats the ape as his own pet, and just has the volunteers do his laundry (instead of providing inquiring local women with income to feed their families) and paint his apartment building (without consulting the landlord). Decides it's the volunteers' fault no wildlife has been saved when they complain, and sends them all away for a fresh batch.
- Travels with a horse, it slips partway down a slope (that he knew was dangerous to travel with a load-carrying animal) to a small ledge with no way off, and he leaves it to die of thirst without trying to help.
- Talks about how incompetent peacekeeping forces are, so he goes to help a nation in crisis. He arrives with no plan, realizes he could be killed, and tries multiple times to get someone else's seat on emergency air transport out again after trapping himself. No one is sympathetic. Peacekeepers defuse the situation and restore peace in about a week. He continues to call them ineffective.
- Travels to a remote tribe known for killing anyone attempting to visit because he wants to personally congratulate them on killing Christian missionaries - because his random validation will mean so much to them? Is threatened with death when he arrives. The only Christian member of the tribe convinces everyone to let him live, lets him stay in his house, and gives him enough food, from his limited supply, for the return journey. He continues berating Christians, which includes the tribe member who is the only reason he’s still alive.
- Meets a woman who also enjoys rough travel through Africa, but tells her he wants her to go home while he travels alone. Ghosts her for a couple years. Is heartbroken upon finding out she didn’t wait for him. (This is a significant portion of the book.)
- Talks about how inexperienced the wildlife authorities are so he has to plan everything. By the end of the book he had finally participated in one raid.
And these are just some of the reasons it was difficult not to throw this book against the wall - but it was a library book, so it stayed safe.
There are some wonderful wildlife goals expressed in this book. The author certainly comes across as having an abundance of energy and passion, and the co-author seems like a great partner to help channel this energy toward their mutual goals. Hopefully their continued efforts have been benefitting apes and other wildlife in the decade since this book was released.
November 28, 2021
Before reading this book, I was fairly certain I knew nothing about Africa. By the time I had finished reading it, I was positive. How does one even begin to try and grasp Africa? Massive in size, vast in cultures, wild in every nuanced version of the word. This book was initially confusing because I was expecting a hard-hitting expose on poaching. Instead, I was introduced to a man who longed for adventure and set about journeying through Africa, to find remote locations, and in doing so, found himself.
Ofir Drori’s story is dramatic in it’s telling, and I cannot even imagine suffering the way he did. His passion and courage sometimes seemed to border on madness; yet, he launched an amazing grassroots effort to save animals from extinction that has flourished into a worldwide conservation operation.
It’s definitely a page-turner, and if you can see your way past some of his seemingly narcissistic expressions, you may “see” parts of Africa you never knew existed. Reading about this incredibly diverse continent is as close as I will ever come. And that’s plenty good enough for me!
Ofir Drori’s story is dramatic in it’s telling, and I cannot even imagine suffering the way he did. His passion and courage sometimes seemed to border on madness; yet, he launched an amazing grassroots effort to save animals from extinction that has flourished into a worldwide conservation operation.
It’s definitely a page-turner, and if you can see your way past some of his seemingly narcissistic expressions, you may “see” parts of Africa you never knew existed. Reading about this incredibly diverse continent is as close as I will ever come. And that’s plenty good enough for me!
June 9, 2017
A Man of Convictions
Few of us have the ability, let alone the tenacity to have a dream as big as Ofir Drori had. He wanted to go to Africa and see the country. So following high school, that's what he did for several years. He found a land of friendly people who welcomed him with open arms. Years later, following his commitment to serve in the Israeli army, he returned to Africa to continue his journey. Ofir loved the country, loved the people. Africa became his country. But as he traveled further, he eventually reached a place where he couldn't ignore the things he saw. And it started with a baby Chimp which he named Future. In a country that was run by political corruption Ofir found a purpose and started the LAGA, a group dedicated to protecting the Chimps and Great Apes.
Few of us have the ability, let alone the tenacity to have a dream as big as Ofir Drori had. He wanted to go to Africa and see the country. So following high school, that's what he did for several years. He found a land of friendly people who welcomed him with open arms. Years later, following his commitment to serve in the Israeli army, he returned to Africa to continue his journey. Ofir loved the country, loved the people. Africa became his country. But as he traveled further, he eventually reached a place where he couldn't ignore the things he saw. And it started with a baby Chimp which he named Future. In a country that was run by political corruption Ofir found a purpose and started the LAGA, a group dedicated to protecting the Chimps and Great Apes.
December 30, 2020
Like many other reviewers, I too thought this might be a book about the last great apes of Africa and a chronicling of their demise. Turns out, this is a book about possibilities, potential, and the beginnings of a bubble up revolution in NGO policy and procedures. The Last Great Ape (LAGA) is the NGO that Ofir Drori creates to stop the illegal bush meat trade and to begin changing laws and accountability in a system rife with corruption and indifference. But that is only the second half of this book. The first half is his story of finding himself and his purpose in Africa. His adventures are dangerous and life threatening but also rewarding and life affirming. It is these adventures that strengthen his resolve to do something about the environmental injustice he witnesses everyday. An inspiring read to those who believe our actions can change the world.
November 11, 2022
"You'll find your way out and then you'll be happy that you were here."
"We live as we dream - Alone."
"Find a place where you can dig and a tree can grow."
A captivating and inspiring story of an adventurer who is a natural altruist.
I thought this book would be more about endangered animals and the conservation approaches. However, I was not disappointed to find a man's life story which is not guided by pre-set rules rather who does the next right thing. From learning the core values and struggles of Africa to fighting corruption and wildlife poaching, Ofir has found the purpose of his life.
Maybe we all have a guiding map within us. All we need is courage to follow our heart.
"We live as we dream - Alone."
"Find a place where you can dig and a tree can grow."
A captivating and inspiring story of an adventurer who is a natural altruist.
I thought this book would be more about endangered animals and the conservation approaches. However, I was not disappointed to find a man's life story which is not guided by pre-set rules rather who does the next right thing. From learning the core values and struggles of Africa to fighting corruption and wildlife poaching, Ofir has found the purpose of his life.
Maybe we all have a guiding map within us. All we need is courage to follow our heart.
December 14, 2020
Such a disappointment! Poorly organized, with abrupt transitions and confusing decisions, this book is written by a man who seems unable to focus on any one topic. Although purportedly about “the last great apes” the first half of the book has meandered all around the continent with no mention of apes at all beyond a description of the arrest of a pitcher in the first chapter.
February 1, 2024
A good and inspiring read, basically the life journal of Ofir Drori. The title can be misleading to some but overall a good read
August 16, 2012
The shiny, piercing, haunted eyes of a chimpanzee stare out from the top of "The Last Great Ape" cover. I both wanted to open this non-fiction book and did not want to. Is this the last great ape? I didn’t want to read about hopelessness--wild, endangered animals slaughtered and murdered for their body parts, sold to the highest, criminal bidder.
But once I began, I could not stop reading. “The Last Great Ape” begins when one of the two authors, Ofir Drori, is hiding in the grass in Cameroon, West Africa beside four armed policemen with assault rifles. They are videotaping a young chimpanzee in chains--he whose wild eyes appear on the cover. This tiny baby chimp that Drori names “Future” is greeting a retired military undercover agent hired for the sting. The agent is posing as a cook of a white man who wants a chimp as a pet. Nearby in the market, ladies are selling elephant meat.
The arduous, exhausting undercover operation has all been orchestrated by Ofir Drori, a 26-year-old Israeli activist, a “fierce warrior” as he describes himself arriving in Africa from Tel Aviv for the first time at eighteen.
Ever since he could talk, Ofir wanted to go to Africa. Even his name comes from a biblical reference to an ancient unknown African land. His mother encouraged his resilient, courageous take-charge, Spartan wanderlust, giving him broken glass to play with at three so he could experience being hurt. True to his Israeli heritage, Ofir Drori becomes David with a David and Goliath mission. The wildlife trade is leading to extinction of endangered species.
The chimp’s name, Future, becomes the signpost for Drori’s one-man NGO (Non-Government Organization) to stop the illegal poaching of wild animals. The raid to rescue Future results in the first prosecution for wildlife crime in all of West and Central Africa.
The book is rich with information on wildlife, African governments, NGOs and animal lover aid organizations. I learned that illegal commercial trade for ape meat and pets (not subsistence level hunting or habitat loss) is driving apes to extinction. Jane Goodall is quoted as saying if poaching is not stopped, all the apes in the world will be extinct in 20 years. Hence the name of Ofir Drori’s NGO, The Last Great Ape, with its mission to bring new ways to an old system.
But fighting for animals is just the beginning. Ofir Drori learns the hard way that the primary obstacle to the big challenges in Africa of development and conservation is not poaching but corruption. The laws are on the books already; they just aren’t being enforced. I learned there are already laws in place--the African wildlife law of 1994, article 158, holds any person caught with an endangered species, living or dead, whole or in part, to be subject to a maximum 3 years in prison.
The style of The Last Great Ape is fresh, clean and rich, full of sensuous descriptions filtered through the eyes of a singular, idealistic young warrior in love with all things African. For example, in an outdoor Maasai market, he writes, “Women on tiny stools watched as I picked up an earring as big and beautiful as a butterfly. I caught my breath and let myself imagine that the earrings’ beads were from old times, traded perhaps for spices or ivory.” When he flips the earrings over, he sees they are made of plastic.
This drama of bringing poachers and their dealers to justice,of freeing wild animals is breathtaking as any Hollywood action thriller. Descriptions of African landscape sear the pages of “The Last Great Ape.” A scene of mountains and cliffs in Kenya is “so broken it seemed a god had taken a slab of stone and smashed it to the earth.” Scenes of family life in Israel are also revealing, as are Drori’s close connections to his friends and his love affair with Rachel, a powerful, fascinating woman I’d like to know better.
As a writer myself, I couldn’t help wondering how the other author, writer David McDannald, worked with activist Ofir Drori? Who did the "writing", from the first to the last draft? Whose words were they? Whose style? And on the political side, what about the threat of negative responses from African governments and high-powered NGOs seemingly engaged in the all-prevalent bribery and corruption?
In the end, I was truly amazed by this story and its transformative, courageous message. Thank you, Ofir Drori and David McDannald. Thank you, Future.
But once I began, I could not stop reading. “The Last Great Ape” begins when one of the two authors, Ofir Drori, is hiding in the grass in Cameroon, West Africa beside four armed policemen with assault rifles. They are videotaping a young chimpanzee in chains--he whose wild eyes appear on the cover. This tiny baby chimp that Drori names “Future” is greeting a retired military undercover agent hired for the sting. The agent is posing as a cook of a white man who wants a chimp as a pet. Nearby in the market, ladies are selling elephant meat.
The arduous, exhausting undercover operation has all been orchestrated by Ofir Drori, a 26-year-old Israeli activist, a “fierce warrior” as he describes himself arriving in Africa from Tel Aviv for the first time at eighteen.
Ever since he could talk, Ofir wanted to go to Africa. Even his name comes from a biblical reference to an ancient unknown African land. His mother encouraged his resilient, courageous take-charge, Spartan wanderlust, giving him broken glass to play with at three so he could experience being hurt. True to his Israeli heritage, Ofir Drori becomes David with a David and Goliath mission. The wildlife trade is leading to extinction of endangered species.
The chimp’s name, Future, becomes the signpost for Drori’s one-man NGO (Non-Government Organization) to stop the illegal poaching of wild animals. The raid to rescue Future results in the first prosecution for wildlife crime in all of West and Central Africa.
The book is rich with information on wildlife, African governments, NGOs and animal lover aid organizations. I learned that illegal commercial trade for ape meat and pets (not subsistence level hunting or habitat loss) is driving apes to extinction. Jane Goodall is quoted as saying if poaching is not stopped, all the apes in the world will be extinct in 20 years. Hence the name of Ofir Drori’s NGO, The Last Great Ape, with its mission to bring new ways to an old system.
But fighting for animals is just the beginning. Ofir Drori learns the hard way that the primary obstacle to the big challenges in Africa of development and conservation is not poaching but corruption. The laws are on the books already; they just aren’t being enforced. I learned there are already laws in place--the African wildlife law of 1994, article 158, holds any person caught with an endangered species, living or dead, whole or in part, to be subject to a maximum 3 years in prison.
The style of The Last Great Ape is fresh, clean and rich, full of sensuous descriptions filtered through the eyes of a singular, idealistic young warrior in love with all things African. For example, in an outdoor Maasai market, he writes, “Women on tiny stools watched as I picked up an earring as big and beautiful as a butterfly. I caught my breath and let myself imagine that the earrings’ beads were from old times, traded perhaps for spices or ivory.” When he flips the earrings over, he sees they are made of plastic.
This drama of bringing poachers and their dealers to justice,of freeing wild animals is breathtaking as any Hollywood action thriller. Descriptions of African landscape sear the pages of “The Last Great Ape.” A scene of mountains and cliffs in Kenya is “so broken it seemed a god had taken a slab of stone and smashed it to the earth.” Scenes of family life in Israel are also revealing, as are Drori’s close connections to his friends and his love affair with Rachel, a powerful, fascinating woman I’d like to know better.
As a writer myself, I couldn’t help wondering how the other author, writer David McDannald, worked with activist Ofir Drori? Who did the "writing", from the first to the last draft? Whose words were they? Whose style? And on the political side, what about the threat of negative responses from African governments and high-powered NGOs seemingly engaged in the all-prevalent bribery and corruption?
In the end, I was truly amazed by this story and its transformative, courageous message. Thank you, Ofir Drori and David McDannald. Thank you, Future.
March 12, 2017
Misleading title
Poorly organized and written. First half of the book is a meandering travel journal. Great apes are barely mentioned.
I admire the man's work, but he can't write
Poorly organized and written. First half of the book is a meandering travel journal. Great apes are barely mentioned.
I admire the man's work, but he can't write
June 3, 2012
I entered a GoodReads giveaway hoping to win this book. I didn't, but I was interested enough in the description that I definitely wanted to read it anyway. This book starts out with a determined,intelligent,independent, stubborn, passionate, but somewhat naive young Israeli man's journey to Africa alone at age 18. Ofir's hunger to absorb the continent of Africa into his soul,on his own terms sometimes leaves him somewhat unprepared, even endangered by his wanderings. However, the reader becomes drawn in by the experiences he encounters that become part of his very existence, that make him who he is. His travels through multiple African countries eventually bring him to Cameroon. Here Ofir finds an outlet for his passion to be someone who makes a difference. His mind and heart focus completely on enforcing the laws of Cameroon regarding endangered animals, especially the great apes. Laws that have to this point been unenforceable due to apathy and corruption. It's a fascinating journey, with deep insights into a man who comes to realize that he has crusaded for so long with a passion powered by hate for the injustices suffered, that he has perhaps lost the ability to deeply love people ( he mourns a lost relationship with a woman he deeply cared about) or to re-discover the simple joys in life of laughter and just "having a good time" that he remembers from his past. Ofir acknowledges loneliness in his way of life, but a deep satisfaction at being able to make a difference in the world and to encourage others to do the same. The endangered species of Africa can have no greater advocate that Ofir Drori and I wish him well as he continues his work, which has branched out from the original NGO, The Last Great Ape Organization (LAGA) to include other advocacy groups as well. The book tears at the emotions and it's story isn't an easy one to hear, nor are the photographs easy to view--but they are vital to know and support so that extinction of more and more species can be avoided.
David McDannald , the co-author, and Ofir's best friend seems to be his voice of reason, with a somewhat more balanced view of life. They make a good team.
David McDannald , the co-author, and Ofir's best friend seems to be his voice of reason, with a somewhat more balanced view of life. They make a good team.
March 7, 2013
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this story. Ofir's experiences in Africa are interesting, engaging, and in many cases quite amazing. I particularly appreciate the self reflection that Ofir engages in, as i feel that he is able to honestly examine both mistakes made and good things he's done in the past. Although I sometime's felt frustrated with Ofir's actions, often he looks back at those actions and reflects on whether his decisions were right or whether he could have done better.
It is interesting to see how Ofir's past led to his path in environmental activism, and I feel like I now have a much greater sense of what it means to be a true activist. It is so nice to hear about someone who is fighting so hard to make a positive change in the world and actually suceeding.
Although I wouldn't claim this book is perfect, this is a great read if you enjoy learning about other cultures, especially if you can remove the lens of your own culture momentarily in order to gain a more clear view the world at large. I really enjoyed hearing Ofir's story.
**Note: this book was won through Goodreads Giveaways
It is interesting to see how Ofir's past led to his path in environmental activism, and I feel like I now have a much greater sense of what it means to be a true activist. It is so nice to hear about someone who is fighting so hard to make a positive change in the world and actually suceeding.
Although I wouldn't claim this book is perfect, this is a great read if you enjoy learning about other cultures, especially if you can remove the lens of your own culture momentarily in order to gain a more clear view the world at large. I really enjoyed hearing Ofir's story.
**Note: this book was won through Goodreads Giveaways
June 22, 2015
I won this book in the giveaways and really glad I did!! I feel like this book is just the start of something and that the next book (And I hope there are more) will be more focused on the current and on-going missions of his organisation if people are wanting to know more about his cause.
This book was enjoyable and some parts were also harrowing to read - how Ofir lived through some situations was amazing and at times unbelievable, but it is real. It is fantastic to hear some of his very personal thoughts being mixed into his experiences due to the extreme environments and the ups and downs of events that happen around him. He seems to be very determined and just one of those people that survive no matter how bad things get, whilst maintaining focus on their goals.
It really is a great read into how Ofir got to where he is now, without going too in depth, which I believe could lead to other books.
This book was enjoyable and some parts were also harrowing to read - how Ofir lived through some situations was amazing and at times unbelievable, but it is real. It is fantastic to hear some of his very personal thoughts being mixed into his experiences due to the extreme environments and the ups and downs of events that happen around him. He seems to be very determined and just one of those people that survive no matter how bad things get, whilst maintaining focus on their goals.
It really is a great read into how Ofir got to where he is now, without going too in depth, which I believe could lead to other books.
June 3, 2012
What a beautifully written story about one man's search for his place in the world and the passion that he finds along the way. I was transported to Africa and felt part of this journey and ultimate crusade to make a difference in this part of the world. Loved it!
tbr-first-reads
June 14, 2017*** I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads ***
** The Giveaway was Listed By David (the author) **
* I received my copy on Tue, Sep 11 2012 *
THANK YOU GOODREADS FIRST READS AND DAVID!
I will follow with a full review after reading.
** The Giveaway was Listed By David (the author) **
* I received my copy on Tue, Sep 11 2012 *
THANK YOU GOODREADS FIRST READS AND DAVID!
I will follow with a full review after reading.
January 19, 2015
"Activism is understanding that you're able to do something as an individual. It doesn't feel like altruism. It feels natural. You recognize your right and your responsibility to participate". I could not agree more and Ofir certainly personifies this...
January 14, 2014
An emotional journey through Africa, encountering the good, the bad and the ugly.......... Well written, a good read!
October 16, 2012
This is a fairly interesting travel log... You don't get to the chimps until over halfway through. Although, I couldn't quite finish the book... I lost interest.
February 7, 2013
There's a good message here. The writing is a little haphazard at times, but there is some important truth written in all of it.
Read
November 1, 2012While I'm not denying that everything in this book is probably true and important for people to know, I just found it too depressing.
December 8, 2012
Great book, vivid descriptions, made me feel like I was in Africa
September 28, 2013
A great read! For anyone who has adventured their way through Africa or held up ideals to the light in the vain hope they are making a difference on this planet.
June 29, 2014
This guy led a wild and passionate life!
Read
February 25, 2016kindle (Africa)
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