FROM THE PUBLISHER

Mountain gorillas are fierce, playful, territorial, curious, and beautiful. They are also one of the most endangered species in the world. For many years, these gorillas have faced the threat of violent death at the hands of poachers. In order to protect the gorillas, funds are raised through 'gorilla tourism,' bringing people into the forest to see these majestic creatures in their natural habitat. This tourism is vital, but it has brought a new threat to the mountain gorillas: illness and death by human disease.The Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project is a group of courageous and talented veterinarians working to save the mountain gorilla population in Rwanda and Uganda. They study the effects of human exposure, document the daily lives of the gorillas, and even act as foster parents to an orphaned gorilla baby named Fearless. Through engaging text and stunning photographs, Pamela Turner takes readers on an exploration like no other in this gripping tale of science, nature, and the conservation of life.

FROM THE CRITICS

School Library Journal

Gr 5-8-Turner introduces the work of the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project (MGVP) as a group of scientists attempts to save endangered animals in Rwanda and Uganda. The readable text records their efforts to treat the great apes in the field as they encounter poachers, meet with loss of habitat, and face their newest threat: human diseases that can cross species lines. The author follows the team as its members go about their demanding work, foster an orphaned baby gorilla, and visit local schools and villages to explain the creatures' endangered status, and to promote positive reactions to their needs. The whole is accompanied by striking, full-color photographs and includes a list of other resources, a postscript, and an index.-Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.