Planet Ape

by Desmond Morris, Steve Parker

The definitive guide to the great apes and how they compare with us, their closest living relatives. Gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos and orangutans are only a hair's breadth away from us in evolutionary terms; our DNA differs by just a few percent. These fascinating creatures hold up a mirror to humanity, giving us insights into our past, our present and perhaps even our future. Planet Ape reveals the great apes in unprecedented where they live, how they live and the challenges they face. Using innovative artworks, photographs and text, the book makes key comparisons between apes and human beings, From peace-loving bonobos to warring chimpanzee communities and from highly sociable gorillas to solitary orangutans, Planet Ape is the first book to do justice to the diversity and complexity of the ape world and what it tells us about our own. Unimaginable habitat loss, war, hunting and disease all threaten to wipe the great apes from the wild. Planet Ape seizes the moment, examining attempts to safeguard these species, including reserves, captive breeding and reintroduction. A proportion of the royalties will be donated to charities working to conserve apes, so buying this book makes an immediate, practical contribution. A spectacular and authoritative survey of our nearest non-human relatives, full of insight about them - and about ourselves. -- David Attenborough

Genres: Nonfiction

288 pages, Hardcover

First published September 10, 2009

About the author

Desmond John Morris (born 24 January 1928) is an English zoologist, ethologist and surrealist painter, as well as a popular author in human sociobiology. He is known for his 1967 book The Naked Ape, and for his television programmes such as Zoo Time.

Reviews

[Cory · Rating 5 out of 5]

read through page 72. Will come back to it later. Library book to return.

[Vivienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative & well illustrated work that provides an excellent introduction to the subject of the great apes along with some information about other primates.

Their physical traits and behaviour are covered including a section at the end about the various threats to their continued existence. I had not realised how important a role they play in terms of their habitat in spreading seeds.

I checked this out of the library in order to increase my knowledge of apes and monkeys to assist in my new role as a volunteer in the education department of a local zoo. Since starting to read it, I've become a lot more confident when talking to visitors about the range of primates at the zoo, especially our apes.

[Lyn Dahlstrom · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this book is not great writing, it is a sweet read. Loved the bonobo apes. It was over too quickly.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice primer on the apes.