In the Kingdom of Gorillas: Fragile Species in a Dangerous Land

by Bill Weber, Amy Vedder

The Barnes & Noble Review
A rare specimen among the many wildlife-related books out there, this gripping first-person reportage from one of the planet's biological hot spots is extremely well written. Bill Weber and Amy Vedder, a husband-and-wife scientific team, spent almost a decade studying endangered mountain gorillas in the Virunga Forest of Rwanda and designing an internationally funded long-term project for their survival. Despite frustrating obstacles (poachers, unhelpful government officials) and difficult work in a cold, damp environment, they considered themselves "among the luckiest people on earth."

Though loosely allied with Dian Fossey, whose story is related in Gorillas in the Mist, Weber and Vedder found it difficult to work with this mercurial and solitary figure. They believe Fossey's work was instrumental in creating a "a global constituency of millions of people who shared her passion for mountain gorillas." But the book also offers a candid perspective on Fossey's erratic behavior and her sometimes misguided efforts. Unlike Fossey and some other biologists, Weber and Vedder believed strongly that protecting gorillas had to involve Rwandans. If the animals became a source of revenue for local people working as tour guides, park guards, and the like, then conservation would win out over razing the gorillas' lush mountain forests for agriculture and ranching. Their Mountain Gorilla Project was one of the first instances of ecotourism.

The book ends with a description of the appalling ethnic genocide that engulfed Rwanda in the 1990s, when Weber and Vedder were back in the U.S. working at New York's Wildlife Conservation Society. Despite a civil war that put severe pressures on the landscape, the gorillas somehow survived -- they were protected by all sides in the conflict, proof that Rwandans had come to view them as essential to their country and its economic future. What raises this book above others of its kind is the fact that the authors also care deeply about the human species. They see the gorillas' survival in the face of so much adversity as a ray of hope for Rwandans struggling to "bring lasting peace to the beautiful land they call home." (Jonathan Cook)

Genres: Nonfiction, Africa, Nature, Animals, Rwanda, Science, Anthropology

370 pages, Hardcover

First published September 25, 2001

About the author

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Reviews

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spectacular merging of cultural anthropology, primatology, and conservationism. Appealing, interesting read on multiple facets.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

After hearing Weber and Vedder give a fascinating talk at the American Museum of Natural History, it was only a matter of finding the time to read their account of working with endangered Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda. Besides discussing the gorilla populations, the book covers the Webers’ initial work with Dian Fossey at Karisoke at Parc des Volcans in the Virunga Mountains, the growing problems with work with the erratic Fossey that forced them to set up the Mountain Gorilla Project (Hence the split, that still exists to this date, that results in there being the Mountain Gorilla Project, a conservation program meshed with eco-tourism and local economic sustainable development programs, and the Dian Fossey Fund (originally the Digit Fund) that funds work on gorilla research.), and the struggles with the growth of MGP, as well as gives details on Rwanda, including a personal perspective on the ethnic tensions that led to the genocide in 1994. The book is a fairly quick read and is recommended to all who want an understanding of our close cousins, the Mountain Gorillas, as well as to those who want to read about a modern-day conservation success-story or are looking for something positive to read about Rwanda after reading Gourevitch’s harrowing We Wish To Inform You that Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families: Tales from Rwanda.

[Krissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up to see more of Dian Fossey & her gorillas. In it I found the gorillas and their growth. Weber and Vedder give a far more detailed picture of life at Karisoke, life in Rwanda, & about various conservation projects. They discuss the need for education in conservation and how they attempted to tackle that. There is a section about AIDS. The last part of the book covers the Rwandan genocide and how outside foreign countries contributed to setting the stage for it as well as ignored the plight of these people. I liked the fuller picture of the country here that I didn’t find in Mowat’s work (which was a biography on Fossey) or in Fossey’s work (which was more descriptions of active conservationism & gorilla discussions).

I could have done with out the Dian Fossey trash talk. They basically paint her as an inept drunk with no interests other than her own self interests. The attack on her character probably had some kernels of truth to it. I mean, in her own autobiography Fossey does admit to kidnapping a poacher’s child in the name of conservation. That said, they presented a lot of speculation with their comments on her character.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me completely riveted. Reading the authors' stories about their life with the mountain gorillas of Rwanda must be the next best thing to being there - possibly better, because it's warmer and dryer here at home, and they write quite well. I was seriously inspired by their unflagging energy and dedication, in the face of endless obstacles, to developing realistic conservation plans that are good for wildlife and also for Rwanda and its people. I was also fascinated by their cultural experiences as Americans in Rwanda. I am glad they devoted quite a bit of space to Rwanda's history and the events leading up to the 1994 genocide; I read those parts with great interest, and they also served to underscore that many conservation efforts must contend with difficult social and political contexts. Be warned: some parts of this book had me crying on the bus. Tears literally rolling down my face in public!

[Brian Laslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I would say this is generally an “excellent” book, it is 1/3 about the Mountain Gorillas, 1/3 about the country/history of Rwanda, and 1/3 the personal lives of the authors. I also feel like both authors “spoke ill of the dead,” with a significant amount of time spent speaking poorly about Dian Fossy. While I’ll admit Fossy had her faults, I think this book went a bit too far in slanderous commentary about someone who could not “return fire.0

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating. Not just about Rwanda and gorillas but also good explanation of forest management and needs of citizens.

[Lydi B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took me a while to get through this—not because it wasn't intriguing, but I didn't expect a hefty dose of Rwandan culture alongside the beloved gentle giants of the forest. Thanks for that.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recently reviewed from reading at least 8 years ago. It definitely left an impression and an ambition to get to Rwanda (which I have now done).....if you are going to Rwanda or want to, or you are interested in great apes and/or conservation I definitely recommend this book. It is a great acount of ecotourism in action and being successful.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book at a time when I was really into primatology, Dian Fossey and Jane Goodall studies, etc. I particularly liked the last section of the book where Veder and Weber dig deeper into the tribal conflicts and ethnic genocide in Rwanda.

[Rachel Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

probably only interesting if you're going to see gorillas, or if you just have an unhealthy obsession with gorillas.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and heartbreaking - will make you want to go live in the jungle with gorillas. Also gives a unique perspective of the murder of Dian Fosse and the Rwandan civil war/genocide.

[Philip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recommended if you are going to visit the mountain gorillas.

[Mpobrennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hands-down the most enlightening book about wildlife conservation I have ever read. It changed my thoughts and my actions.

[Shelly-shawn Womack-gritton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! Excellent! Wish I was there :)

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great background for a trip to visit gorillas in Ruanda.