Page 8 - The Shores of Jupiter - October '22
P. 8
Page 8, The Shores
Book Review
Ape House were they letting accept, but this is, according to Gruen, fact in the science
me come in, they of research with this species of great apes.
By Nils A. Shapiro were insisting…. The important characters in the story include a reporter,
My plan was to review The experience was John Thigpen, who is fascinated by the bonobos, thinks
a different book for this astonishing—to this highly of the project, is fully supportive of it and, truth
month’s column, but an odd day I cannot think be told, is kind of fascinated by the research scientist,
experience changed my about it without Isabel, herself, which serves to hint at a romantic subplot,
selection. I had just ordered getting goose although he is happily married.
online a newly published bumps. You cannot Suddenly, the laboratory is bombed, Isabel is seriously
book on a subject of great have a two-way injured and the bonobos escape into neighboring trees.
interest to me, a work of conversation with a Unlike chimpanzees, which have a violent streak when
nonfiction that I am very great ape, or even they reach maturity—making them dangerous to keep
anxious to read and bring just look one straight as pets, as many families have learned to their dismay—
to your attention, but which in the eye, close up, bonobos experience the same shock, fear and confusion
will not be delivered to me for a week or longer. For some w ithout coming that humans would feel when their world is torn asunder.
reason I can’t explain, that new book stirred in me the away changed…. I What happens next—who committed this horrific
memory of a novel that I read and loved many years ago. was told that the next act; the way in which the bonobos become pawns in a
So, I researched the computer files of my 150-plus past day Panbanisha (one greedy attempt to garner national TV ratings; Isabel’s
Book Reviews—which are arranged chronologically, not of the bonobos) said to one of the scientists, “Where’s frantic efforts to rescue her apes from a dangerous and
by book title—and finally, after more than an hour, came Sara? Build her nest. When’s she coming back?” life-threatening condition, and the role of the reporter in
upon the one for which I was searching. The following After having had such an experience, it is no wonder trying to help her—form the threads of this story that is
appeared in this column 11 years ago. I commend this that Gruen next used it to full advantage in writing the beautifully written and very suspenseful. I was hooked
book to you again, wholeheartedly. You will understand novel Ape House. This is the story of an animal behavioral from the very beginning. And when you get to almost the
how it relates to the new book that I am awaiting when research scientist, Isabel Duncan, who has been working last page, a box of facial tissues will come in very handy.
I review that one in a future column. with a group of bonobos using the ASL communication. By then, those bonobos will have won a very special
***** Living under the auspices of a U.S. university under place in your heart, and you will be aching for them to
The common wisdom used to be that chimpanzees excellent, positive and thoroughly humane conditions, be reunited with Isabel.
were the animal world’s closest relatives to humans. the bonobos are extremely happy and well cared for, Does all turn out well in the end or not? I would
That is no longer the case. We now know that another yet a small band of well-intentioned—but misguided— sign language the answer to you, but I don’t know
species of great apes—bonobos, which are native to the protesters continue to march outside the laboratory walls. how. Perhaps I am not as intelligent as a bonobo. You
Congo—share a remarkable 98.7 percent of the human The capability of bonobos to utilize sign language, will have to read the book to find out. If Gruen had an
DNA. Though similar in size to chimpanzees, they differ according to Gruen, is reflected throughout the book, unforgettable experience actually meeting the bonobos, I
somewhat in their physical features. Most importantly, as when, for example, Bonzi—the female head of the am one reviewer who has had an unforgettable experience
bonobos in research studies have learned to understand bonobo matriarchal society—is asking for coffee with a reading her book.
the meanings of as many as 3,000 English words, and lot of sugar. She signs: “Want candy coffee. Isabel go. After all, 11 years later another completely different
have actually been taught to communicate with humans in Hurry gimme.” It may be difficult for some readers to book reminded me how much I loved it.
full two-way conversation using the same sign language
—American Sign Language (ASL)—that deaf humans
Sara Gruen, author of Ape House, first heard about It’s The Law!
use to communicate!
bonobos in an email from her mother soon after completing
her major bestselling book, Water for Elephants, (which Did You Know That, In homestead real estate, which is sometimes handled
was made into a hit motion picture), and decided to learn differently).
more about these fascinating animals. When she contacted Florida… A registered agent is appointed by a corporation,
the leading research institute, the Great Ape Trust, she foreign or within the state of Florida, to accept service
was told that she would first have to do some studying By Adam S. Gumson, of process, notices or demands received.
about linguistics in Toronto, and then—believe it or not, Esq. Looking to start a partnership? An operating
but true— she would have to get permission from the Real estate purchased agreement memorializes all of the “handshake”
bonobos themselves in order to be able to visit them! After prior to a marriage may agreements as to what happens if one of the owners
completing her homework, she put together a backpack not always be considered becomes disabled, divorces or dies, and will prevent
that contained such goodies as bouncy balls, fleece a non-marital asset if confusion down the road because both parties understand
blankets, M&M’s, xylophones, Mr. Potato Head toys, etc., marital funds were used the agreed-upon rules before the situation arises.
and asked the people at the Great Ape Trust to inform for mortgage payments. Jupiter Law Center is a private neighborhood law
the bonobos that she had some “surprises” for them. As It i s i mport ant to firm located in the RiverPlace Professional Center,
Gruen relates it, the response she got was that “not only maintain good records 1003 W. Indiantown Road, Suite 210, Jupiter, Fla.,
so that you can trace the (561) 744-4600, jupiterlawcenter.com. The firm
funds and show that no provides peace of mind by solving problems with
monies were commingled. integrity and compassion in the areas of estate planning
If a child is adopted by someone other than the (wills and trusts, powers of attorney, health care
biological father, liability of the biological father for surrogates, living wills, probate estates, succession
child support is terminated. planning, contracts and purchase/sale agreements),
A personal representative is required to settle family law (divorce, paternity, child support and time
and distribute an estate according to the terms of the sharing, alimony, property distribution, modifications,
decedent’s will and the Florida Statutes. Unless the will collaborative law, pre/post nuptial agreements) and
states differently, the personal representative will take real estate (community association law, residential and
possession and control of the decedent’s property (except commercial transactions, deeds, closings).
Peripheral
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