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 Bonobo
: The Forgotten Ape
For Frans de Waal, man is not the only moral entity, as he made
clear in his last book--Good Natured: The Origins of Right and Wrong
in Humans and Other Animals. The author has long been intrigued
by chimpanzee politics and mores, and now he has turned his human
heart and scientific mind to a species science has tended to celebrate
solely for its sex drive. Bonobos may look like chimps, but they
are actually even closer to us--far more upright, physically, for
a start. Furthermore, where chimpanzees hunt, fight, and politic
like mad, bonobos are peaceful, often ambisexual, and matriarchal.
(Of course, hyenas are matriarchal too, but that's another story
...) De Waal's collaborator, Frans Lanting, has been photographing
these gentle creatures for some years and augments the primatologist's
explorations and interviews with hundreds of superb color shots.
The penultimate picture is of bonobos crossing a road while schoolchildren
stand watching, a short distance away. If, as the truism goes, all
books about animal behavior are ultimately about us, this exploration
of the bonobo may be a step in the right direction. (From Amazon.com)
From the Back Cover
"As a chronicler of natural history today, Frans Lanting is a singular,
extraordinary talent. He has the mind of a scientist, the heart
of a hunter, and the eyes of a poet. He is as persistent, adaptable,
and hard as the wild creatures he observes. His bonobo photographs
bring us face-to-face with a group of highly endangered apes. Eerily,
aspects of their behavior mirror our own." (Thomas R. Kennedy, Director
of Photography, National Geographic Society)
About the Author
Frans de Waal is C.H. Candler Professor of Primate Behavior and
Director, Living Links Center, Emory University. He is the author
of several books, including Chimpanzee Politics (1982) and Good
Natured: The Origins of Right and Wrong in Humans and Other Animals(1996).
Frans Lanting is one of the world's leading nature photographers
and the recipient of many prestigious awards. His work appears regularly
in National Geographic, Life, and other magazines. His books include
Okavango: Africa's Last Eden (1993), Madagascar: A World out of
Time (1990), and Forgotten Edens (1993).
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Bonobo
: The Forgotten Ape
by F. B. M. De Waal, et al
Amazon.com
For Frans de Waal, man is not the only moral entity,
as he made clear in his last book--Good Natured:
The Origins of Right and Wrong in Humans and Other
Animals. The author has long been intrigued
by chimpanzee politics and...
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