Bøger af Ann Southcombe

This is a story, told from Wheezer the Squirrel's viewpoint, of how he was rescued after falling from his nest and nursed back to health by his human Ann Southcombe. With pictures and narrative, we learn about Wheezer and his life, and also learn some interestin facts about squirrels.

This fascinating and heartfelt memoir is about Ann Southcombe's life dedicated to her love and caring for animals. Ms. Southcombe's dedication and passion for animals has stretched over forty years and has taken her to the wilds of the Amazon, the undersea world of Hawaii, and the beautiful forested mountains of Oregon. During her career, she raised seven captive gorillas; she was the teacher to Michael, the companion of Koko, the gorilla; and to Chantek, the signing orangutan. An early pioneer who provided enrichment for captive animals, her name belongs on the same list as Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Penny Patterson for the work she has done to raise awareness of the importance of our relationships to our "non-human kin."From Ann Southcombe with a quote from Frans de Waal:In the early '70s when I worked with animals at the Cincinnati Zoo, I was ridiculed and called a "Bunny Hugger" because I thought the animals had thoughts and feelings similar to humans. I feel vindicated today, but still many scientists stay clear of such observations. Thankfully, many more do not. Sy Montgomery expressed my feelings so eloquently in her review of the book by Frans de Waal, Mama's Last Hug-Animal Emotions and What They Tell Us about Ourselves:"Too many illuminating observations have gone unpublished because suggesting that humans share traits with other animals invites accusations of anthropomorphism. To avoid such charges, researchers have invented a glossary of contorted terms: Animals don't have friends but "favorite affiliation partners"; chimps don't laugh when tickled, but make "vocalized panting" sounds.This isn't just silly; it's dangerous. Instead of worrying about anthropomorphizing animals, we should fear . . . what de Waal calls "anthropodenial." When . . . we pretend that only humans think, feel and know, "it stands in the way of a frank assessment of who we are as a species," he writes. An understanding of evolution demands that we recognize continuity across life-forms. . . . Achieving realistic and compassionate relationships with the rest of the animate world requires that we honor these connections, which extend far and deep."

To read The Gorilla Diaries is to immerse oneself in the daily antics of baby gorillas, and the woman who loved them like a mom. Unique in its perspective, the diaries grant us the privilege of being in close proximity to one of our neighbors on the evolutionary ladder. This book offers a rare glimpse into the behavior of captive gorillas raised by humans, a practice ended almost completely by the 1980s. We watch these animals grow and change under the watchful eye of Ann Southcombe. Reading these diaries is to witness this amazing woman''s love and dedication to these furry friends, and the lasting bonds formed between two species. The Gorilla Diaries takes us back to a time when zoos were turning from menageries designed to amuse the public, to conservation and education institutions. With the first gorilla born in captivity in 1956, there wasn''t a lot of experience or easy communication to help pioneers in gorilla care like Ann Southcombe in the 1970''s. Ann gives us a glimpse into her days with seven baby gorillas, including the antics of each different personality.Learning as she went and using her intuitive and loving nature to guide her, Ann''s love and dedication to her "babies" and all animals continues to this day. There is a large population of gorilla fans around the globe who will enjoy reading about Ann''s important part of gorilla history. I know I was!