Page 14 - The Islander - October '22

Page 14, The Islander

Book rEviEW

Ape House

By Nils A. Shapiro

My plan was to review The capability of bonobos chimpanzees, which have a violent streak when they reach
a different book for this to utilize sign language, maturity—making them dangerous to keep as pets, as many
month’s column, but an according to Gruen, is families have learned to their dismay—bonobos experience
odd experience changed reflected throughout the the same shock, fear and confusion that humans would feel
my selection. I had just book, as when, for example, when their world is torn asunder.
ordered online a newly Bonzi—the female head What happens next—who committed this horrific act; the
published book on a of the bonobo matriarchal way in which the bonobos become pawns in a greedy attempt
subject of great interest to society—is asking for coffee to garner national TV ratings; Isabel’s frantic efforts to rescue
me, a work of nonfiction with a lot of sugar. She signs: her apes from a dangerous and life-threatening condition, and
that I am very anxious “Want candy coffee. Isabel the role of the reporter in trying to help her—form the threads
to read and bring to your go. Hurry gimme.” It may be of this story that is beautifully written and very suspenseful.
attention, but which will difficult for some readers to I was hooked from the very beginning. And when you get
not be delivered to me for a week or longer. For some accept, but this is, according to almost the last page, a box of facial tissues will come in
reason I can’t explain, that new book stirred in me the to Gruen, fact in the science very handy. By then, those bonobos will have won a very
memory of a novel that I read and loved many years ago. of research with this species special place in your heart, and you will be aching for them
So, I researched the computer files of my 150-plus past of great apes. to be reunited with Isabel.
Book Reviews—which are arranged chronologically, not The important characters in the story include a reporter, Does all turn out well in the end or not? I would sign
by book title—and finally, after more than an hour, came John Thigpen, who is fascinated by the bonobos, thinks language the answer to you, but I don’t know how. Perhaps
upon the one for which I was searching. The following highly of the project, is fully supportive of it and, truth be I am not as intelligent as a bonobo. You will have to read the
appeared in this column 11 years ago. I commend this told, is kind of fascinated by the research scientist, Isabel, book to find out. If Gruen had an unforgettable experience
book to you again, wholeheartedly. You will understand herself, which serves to hint at a romantic subplot, although actually meeting the bonobos, I am one reviewer who has
how it relates to the new book that I am awaiting when he is happily married. had an unforgettable experience reading her book.
I review that one in a future column. Suddenly, the laboratory is bombed, Isabel is seriously After all, 11 years later another completely different book
***** injured and the bonobos escape into neighboring trees. Unlike reminded me how much I loved it.
The common wisdom used to be that chimpanzees
were the animal world’s closest relatives to humans.
That is no longer the case. We now know that another
species of great apes—bonobos, which are native to the NorthErN NotEs
Congo—share a remarkable 98.7 percent of the human
DNA. Though similar in size to chimpanzees, they differ
somewhat in their physical features. Most importantly,
bonobos in research studies have learned to understand Preserving The Preserves
the meanings of as many as 3,000 English words, and
have actually been taught to communicate with humans in By Katie Roundtree, Director of Finance and Administration, Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District
full two-way conversation using the same sign language
—American Sign Language (ASL)—that deaf humans
use to communicate! Northern owns and
Sara Gruen, author of Ape House, first heard maintains approximately
about bonobos in an email from her mother soon after 2,000 acres of preserves
completing her major bestselling book, Water for throughout the 128 square
Elephants, (which was made into a hit motion picture), mile district. It is an
and decided to learn more about these fascinating animals. integral part of many of
When she contacted the leading research institute, the our residential communities
Great Ape Trust, she was told that she would first have and a pristine area of native
to do some studying about linguistics in Toronto, and Florida that we strive to
then—believe it or not, but true— she would have to protect. Since these areas
get permission from the bonobos themselves in order to sometimes lie behind
be able to visit them! After completing her homework, residents’ houses, we get
she put together a backpack that contained such goodies many calls to trim back trees or take out trees that are not
as bouncy balls, fleece blankets, M&M’s, xylophones, aesthetically pleasing. If it is warranted or threatening to We also get requests to remove rodents from
Mr. Potato Head toys, etc., and asked the people at the property, we will trim back or remove vegetation, but in most preserves. Northern staff does not treat for rodents or
Great Ape Trust to inform the bonobos that she had some cases, trees should be left in their native state. Why is this? any other pests in the preserves. The baits and poisons
“surprises” for them. As Gruen relates it, the response she Why can’t we make the preserve areas look like parks? used for that purpose are designed to attract and kill
got was that “not only were they letting me come in, they First and foremost, we are required through permit with rodents but are also known to attract other nontarget
were insisting…. The experience was astonishing—to South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), not to mammals. Aside from the risk of primary exposure to
this day I cannot think about it without getting goose remove or kill any native trees or plants in the preserve. As for nontarget mammals in the preserves, there is also the
bumps. You cannot have a two-way conversation with a other more ecological examples, native trees and vegetation risk of secondary exposure.
great ape, or even just look one straight in the eye, close provide many benefits to wildlife. Cabbage palms are Rodents, including mice and rats, are a key
up, without coming away changed…. I was told that the Florida’s state tree. They provide housing for many animals component of the food chain in the natural ecosystems
next day Panbanisha (one of the bonobos) said to one of such as squirrels, racoons, frogs, lizards, etc. Small rodents, throughout the preserves. Many of the desired animals in
the scientists, “Where’s Sara? Build her nest. When’s she lizards, insects, and even rare plant species rely on the uncut the preserves rely on rodents as food, including animals
coming back?” “boots” on a palm for a home. Squirrels and birds will use such as hawks, owls, bobcats, foxes, and snakes. When
After having had such an experience, it is no wonder the palm thatch as nesting material and will often nest in the rodents are poisoned, they become weak and are easy
that Gruen next used it to full advantage in writing the the palm. Recently staff and preserve crews removed three prey for predators. If these predators eat the poisoned
novel Ape House. This is the story of an animal behavioral cabbage palms from behind a resident’s home. When one of rodents, they will get secondary exposure to the poison
research scientist, Isabel Duncan, who has been working the palms dropped to the ground, seven newborn squirrels and will likely die. If we start targeting organisms on
with a group of bonobos using the ASL communication. fell out of it. Staff had to build a temporary “home” for the the lower end of the food chain, this will disrupt the rest
Living under the auspices of a U.S. university under babies close to the tree and hope that the mother came back of the food chain and could cause serious harm to the
excellent, positive and thoroughly humane conditions, to find them. Many bird nests can also be lost because of health of the preserves.
the bonobos are extremely happy and well cared for, cutting plants down. An essential part of preserving the preserves is to let
yet a small band of well-intentioned—but misguided— A 2019 study in south Florida found that cavity nesters, nature be nature. Removing exotic species of plants and
protesters continue to march outside the laboratory walls. native woodpeckers specifically, favored palm snags over allowing for nature to take its course are important for the
pine trees or maples in urbanized tropical regions. A health of the preserves and the rest of our environment in
snag is a dead tree. This is even more of a reason to keep South Florida. Nature is not always perfectly groomed,
standing snags in the preserve. We had a resident request but for everything there is a purpose. What may seem like
to take out a maple snag from behind his home. It wasn’t an old ugly tree to you, may be home to birds and other
Captain’s was established in 1980 servicing threatening any property, just was a bit of an eyesore. wildlife. Leaving the preserves in their natural state is
Palm Beach County and is a privately Northern staff went to check it out and as soon they got required and the right thing to do.
owned and managed company. close to the tree, a woodpecker flew towards them and into NPDES tip: Planting a rain garden with native plants
Captain’s is committed to providing a small cavity it had built in the tree. Not only was there somewhere around your home helps lock rainwater in
dependable, reliable and professional a nest, but there were several baby chicks inside that the the ground, reducing the flow of pollutants and poisons
ground transportation to and from all
South Florida Airports and Seaports. PBCVH212 woodpecker was feeding. Even more importantly, many into the drains. Using organic fertilizers and pesticides
To reserve your vehicle: of these birds and their nests/eggs are protected by federal in your garden further protects and brings health to your
561-798-2180 or 800-634-7890 www.captainsairport.com law (The Migratory Bird Treaty Act). yard and all the species living there.