A Chimp in the Family: The Singular Story of Two Infants-One Human, One Chimpanzee--Growing Up Together

by Vince Smith

In 1990, when Vince Smith--currently manager of the Diane Fossey Gorilla Fund's mountain gorilla conservation program-- was working as a senior keeper at Chester Zoo in the English countryside, a newborn chimpanzee in his care was abandoned by her mother. Named Sophie, the infant chimp was taken home and hand-reared by Vince and his wife. Six months later another new baby arrived: Oliver, their son. A Chimp in the Family is the compelling and entertaining...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 156924460X
• ISBN13: 9781569244609
• Release Date: March 2004
• Publisher: Marlowe & Company
• Length: 311 Pages
• Weight: 0.86 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.6" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Wonderful!

This is a profoundly touching book. You will feel a lot of very strong emotions of all kinds reading it, and the end is devastating. Smith does a great job showing us the great spirit and soul of Sophie. My wife and I felt his loss keenly, and had tears. The pictures alone are worth the price of the book. Highly recommended.

WHAT A DELIGHT

What a wonderful, delightful book! I picked it up not knowing much about chimps, but the thought of raising one along with your own child was an amusing and amazing premise. The book never fails to be loving, interesting, and educational all at once. The author loved his little chimp just as he loved his wife and child, and his expressions of love and knowledge about the various animals (mostly chimpanzees) he talks about in this book are lovely. Man can often be very cruel and foolish and stupid, whereas it seems animals are just themselves. They can survive in all sorts of man-made zoos and such, with nary a complaint. Sophie, the chimp in this book, was a special and loving little creature who will grab your heart. Thank you to Vince Smith for sharing your deepest heart with us.

The unique account of rearing two babies side by side

A Chimp in the Family is the true story of an ecologist and conservationist who took an infant chimpanzee into his home when she was abandoned by her mother. Six months later, his son was born. A Chimp in the Family is the unique account of rearing two babies side by side as one's own kin. Offering heartfelt tales of struggling with infant care and the milestones of early childhood, A Chimp in the Family also offers the unique difficulties in attempting to persuade a hand-reared chimpanzee to socialize with others of its kind. Happiness and heartbreak blend in A Chimp in the Family, which details social and emotional bonds between humans and animals from an intensely personal point of view.

Unsentimental and touching

this book proved far better than many similar works about raising baby animals. it is well written and not excessively sentimental or anthropomorphic, though the author does discuss the close relationship between chimps and humans, genetically and behaviorally. be prepared: it has an unhappy ending. definitely worth a read.