Kishina

A True Story of Gorilla Survival

by Maxine Rock

This is the true story of how one young gorilla helped us learn about her species and its preservation. Kishina was the first gorilla born in Yerkes Regional Primate Research Center. Through observing Kishina, researchers realized that gorillas, much like humans, should live in families and communities in order to thrive and reproduce.

With the outside world rapidly encroaching on the gorilla’s natural homes, it is becoming even more important for humans to understand these magnificent animals and to strive to find more ways to ensure their survival. Kishina, whose name means “the source” in Swahili, was the source of valuable knowledge that lead to the creation of natural habitat zoos and animal parks.

Award-winning science writer Maxine Rock, whose daughter was born at the same time as Kishina, devoted years of research to this book, which will introduce young readers to the world of the gorillas, and to the evolution of the study of gorillas, one of human being’s closest animal relatives.