From the founders of the world-famous Mountain Gorilla Project, an empowering account of their efforts to save the mountain gorilla in Rwanda and how they succeeded—even in the midst of a horrendous civil war. In 1978, when Dr. Bill Weber and Dr. Amy Vedder arrived in Rwanda to study mountain gorillas with Dian Fossey, the gorilla population was teetering toward extinction. Poaching was rampant, but it was loss of habitat that most endangered the gorillas. When yet another slice of the Virunga Mountains was targeted for development, Weber and Vedder recognized that the gorillas were doomed unless something was done to save their land. Over Fossey's objections, they helped found the Mountain Gorilla Project. The MGP was designed to educate Rwandans about the gorillas and about the importance of conservation, while at the same time establishing an ecotourism project—one of the first anywhere in a rainforest—to bring desperately needed revenue to Rwanda. In vivid detail, Weber and Vedder describe their experiences getting to know entire families of gorillas, from powerful silverback patriarchs to helpless newborn infants. They tell us about the gorillas they recognized and came to know as individuals, stories both tragic and joyful. They describe a landscape that was heaven one day, green hell the next. And they tell of their discovery of the terrible and mysterious events surrounding Fossey's murder. They explain that the key to saving the mountain gorillas was helping the people of Rwanda—even in the face of a civil war—to share in the benefits of conservation. Rich with details about the gorillas' lives, the realities of conservation, and portraits of ordinary people caught in extraordinary times, this is a riveting adventure story that is sure to take its place among the classic accounts of the world of nature. An NPR Science Friday Best Science Book of 2001 Selection A Toronto Globe and Mail Top Science and Nature Choice for 2001 "The pages of this book are filled with adventure and heroism, tragedy and joy." -- Jane Goodall Author of In the Shadow of Man "The best book ever written for those who want to understand not only the glory of Africa's wildlife but also the setting for that glory.... Bill Weber and Amy Vedder are two remarkable human beings; the gorillas were lucky to find them, and you are, too." -- Bill McKibben Author of The End of Nature " In the Kingdom of Gorillas is inspiring [and] quietly optimistic." -- Natalie Angier The New York Times "A vivid portrait...a gripping read." -- Steven Austed Natural History "Excellent...a clear, moving account...ultimately optimistic." -- Robert Sapolsky, author of A Primate's Memoir "The authors convey a clear and vivid affection for their research subjects and an abiding fascination with their behavior...entertaining reading." — The Washington Post Book World "As a primer for the uncomfortable reality that lies ahead, every starry-eyed would-be conservationist should read this book...Its range is immense." — Times of London Literary Supplement Dr. Bill Weber has worked for over thirty years in the field of international conservation. He lived in Africa for nine years, where he and his wife, Dr. Amy Vedder, helped to establish the famous Mountain Gorilla Project in Rwanda and several other park and forest protection initiatives across the Congo Basin. Later, as the director of North America Programs for the Wildlife Conservation Society, he oversaw dozens of projects from Alaska to the Adirondacks, addressing issues from lynx and wolf recovery to fire ecology, ecotourism, and community-based conservation. He also co-edited African Rain Forest Ecology and Conservation , co-authored In the Kingdom of Gorillas , and served as co-chair of the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative. Dr. Amy Vedder is an ecologist and primatologist who has worked for over thirty years as an international wildlife and wild lands conservationist. She helped to establish the famous Mountain Gorilla Project in Rwanda with Dr. Bill Weber, pioneering ecotourism and community outreach programs in Burundi and Rwanda. She later served as program director for Wildlife Conservation Society’s Africa Program, as well as senior technical advisor for the GEF/UNDP, and senior vice president for conservation at The Wilderness Society. She has lectured at Yale School of the Environment, co-edited African Rain Forest Ecology and Conservation , and co-authored In the Kingdom of Gorillas . Chapter One: The View from Bukavu Go ahead. Sit next to him. Adrien deSchryver's suggestion was part tease, part dare. Amy hesitated, then smiled as she began to crawl toward Casimir, a massive silverback scowling at us from beneath a tree about thirty feet away. Surprised by her eager response, deSchryver grabbed Amy by the belt and pulled her back to his side. For the next thirty minutes, we watched Casimir and his family of gorillas from a respectful