Robert L Demayo

An obsession with apes leads a man on a quest to get out of his head and immerse himself in nature. But the ape encounters he experiences on five continents, with all their wondrous and terrifying moments, impact him in entirely unexpected ways. Pithecophilia gives readers insight into the early explorations of Africa and Asia, into our discovery of apes, the evolution of our understanding of them, and into conservation efforts to save them. The book also reveals what is unique about primates, and how, in many ways, they are windows into our own souls.

The powerful true story of one man's quest to unravel the mysteries of the world's primates.From the steep slopes of the Virunga Volcanoes to the steamy jungles of Sumatra, Pithecophilia explores author Robert Louis DeMayo's life-changing search for ape encounters, as he discovers the secrets of their history, biology, and what they can tell us about ourselves. Touching on the efforts of the world's leading conservationists and scientific institutions, you'll also discover how the early exploration of Africa and Asia's untamed wilderness shaped our knowledge of apes and how their efforts to document our planet's wild animals eventually led to efforts to save them. Imbued with touching memories, humorous anecdotes, and over fifty years of wondrous, magical, and sometimes terrifying experiences, Pithecophilia paints a beautiful picture of how primates are, in many ways, windows into our own souls.