Kindred Beings: What Seventy-Three Chimpanzees Taught Me About Life, Love, and Connection

作者 Sheri Speede著
出版社 HarperCollins US
出版时间 2013年9月
ISBN 9780062132482
定价 226.90

内容简介

Enteraworldoftenderfriendships,staunchloyalties,violentjealousies—andenduringlove.Asachild,SheriSpeedeknewthatshewantedtoadvocateforanimalsinanywayshecould.Butitwasnotuntilmanyyearsafterveterinaryschool,whenshewastransportingachimpanzeenamedPierreawayfromabiomedicalfacilityaspartofherjobasaconservationadvocateinCameroon,thatDr.Speedediscoveredhertruecalling.Shebegantosearchforlandforaforestsanctuaryforcaptivechimpanzeesthatwereheldonchainsandinsmallcagesatlocalhotels.Dr.SpeedeeventuallyfoundedtheSanaga-YongChimpanzeeRescueCenter,aforestedhomefororphansoftheillegalapemeattrade.Onechim-panzee,Dorothy,wasrescuedbyDr.Speedeandhercolleaguesfromableakexistenceimprisonedonachainandforgedadeepfriendshipwithher.Dr.Speedeexplainshowchimpanzees,likehumans,arecapableofabroadspectrumofemotionalbehaviors—bothhatefulandloving.Dr.SpeedealsocandidlyrevealsherownstrugglesasastrangerinaforeignculturetryingtoadjusttoruralAfricanvillagelife.AndsheadmitsthatunlikeDorothy,shewasnotalwayskind,gentle,andforgiving.Dorothydiedofoldageatthesanctuary,andaphotographofDorothy'sfuneral,inwhichDr.SpeedecradledDorothy'sheadwhileherfamilyofchimpanzeesmournfullyviewedherbody,wentviralafterbeingpublishedinNationalGeographic.Theworldwassurprisedatthedepthofthechimps'griefatthelossoftheirfriend,butDr.Speedewasnot.Throughthechimps,shehadcometounderstandthemeaningoflove,loyalty,andtrueconnection.Whilethisisacompellingstoryabouttheemotionalcomplexityofthechimpanzeessherescuedandbefriended,itisalsoDr.Speede'sstory.Majoreventsinherpersonallife,includingloveaffairs,dangerousrun-inswithcriminals,andthebirthofherdaughter,unfoldasthedevelopmentofherprimaterescuecenterrunsparalleltoherowndevelopment.Ultimately,KindredBeingsisastoryofprofoundresilience,ofboththeapesandthewomanwholovedthem.

作者简介

SherriSpeedequalifiedasaDoctorofVeterinaryMedicineatLouisianaStateUniversityandbeganpracticingin1985.MovingtothePortland,Oregonareain1988,shesoonbecameapartnerinPacificVeterinaryHospital,asuccessfulsouthwestPortlandpractice.Shesoldherinterestintheveterinarypracticein1995soshecouldcommitherselffulltimetoanimalactivism.Dr.SpeedelivedinCameroonfull-timefrom1998tolate2011.Duringthistime,shecollaboratedwiththeCameroonGovernmenttofoundtheSanaga-YongChimpanzeeRescueCenter,aforestedhomefororphansoftheillegalapemeattrade,whilesheledconservationprogramsaimedatsavingchimpanzeesandgorillasfromextinction.WithEdmundStone,sheestablishedInDefenseofAnimals-Africa(IDA-Africa)astheU.S.baseofsupportfortheworkinCameroon.Currently,splittinghertimebetweenCameroonandtheUnitedStates,sheservesasDirectorofIDA-AfricaandSanaga-YongChimpanzeeRescueCenter.

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