The Chimpanzee Book : Apes Like Us

Chimpanzees are our closest living animal relatives. They can use language; they make and use tools, and have traditions - which they pass from one generation to the next. Like us, they kiss, hug and comfort each other, form life-long friendships and grieve for their dead. They can also hold grudges for years, and even go to war against their enemies! The story of chimpanzees - from those that use sharpened spears to hunt, to those that have their own 'crossing guards' to help them travel safely.

About The Author

All Carla ever wanted to do was to work with animals, but she knew that before people would listen to her as a scientist, she had to do a lot of study, so she went to Uni and ended up with a PhD. Her studies involved animals at Adelaide Zoo, to find activities for them to do that challenged their brains and allowed them to have fun as well (e.g. food puzzles). She became an expert in chimpanzees and gorillas, because again she followed her heart and went to live in Uganda for a year (despite everyone telling her she was crazy).

Now she spends a lot of time at zoos working on enrichment programs, but also lecturing at uni, and giving talks to different groups about conservation, the bush-meat trade, animal behaviour, or wildlife tourism. She also has lots of meetings with other animal lovers, (she is on the SA Zoos Board, the United Nations GRASP-Australasia board, and is President of the Australasian Primate Society). She is also a keen photographer, film-maker, writer and just recently, drummer.