Mama’s Last Hug: Animal Emotions and What They Tell Us About Ourselves

Mama’s Last Hug: Animal Emotions and What They Tell Us About Ourselves by Frans De Waal        Audio Book:  10 hrs., 38 mins      Paperback Book:  336 pages            

Primatologist, Frans De Waal, begins his story talking about Mama a 59 year old Chimpanzee, who was the Matriarch of her chimp colony.   When Mama was dying, a biologist named Jan van Hooff, who had formed a deep bond with her, entered her night cage to say goodbye.  This was unprecedented.    Chimpanzee’s have uncanny strength and can be dangerous but van Hooff, loved her so, and knowing her end was near, wanted to say goodbye.    A video was made of the meeting.     Mama, though, weak and frail, was so happy to see him, her mouth fell open in surprise and delight and she reached for him to pat him on the neck and rub his head lovingly.    She embraced him with a big smile she was so happy to see him.   Mama’s story is told in snippets throughout the book, her intervening in disputes, her laughter, her reactions when shame-faced wrong doers within the colony came to her for forgiveness, etc.      Other examples are also given of other species, who have the ability to demonstrate that they too feel as we humans do and experience many emotions, love, hate, anger, sorrow, guilt and shame, disgust, fear, joy and empathy.    De Waal has studied animals, primarily primates for over 40 years and has come to the conclusion, unlike many of his naysayer colleagues, that animals do exhibit expressions and behavior that is congruent with what humans define as emotion.   He notes the empathy pets show when their human caregiver is sad.   He talks about how in elephant herds “Auntie” elephants will help care for youngsters even helping the mother to save them when they fall, are stuck in water or mud they cannot get out of,  etc.    Excellent book.    Check out the video of Mama an Jan van Hooff,  it will bring tears to your eyes, it is so dear.   Mama was so happy to see her old friend before her passing, two days later.   Bless her.   I highly recommend this book to everyone from Middleschool up.

 - Shirley J