Synopses & Reviews
An epic journey through Africa by a man who fell in love with a magical and disappearing world and then transformed himself into a warrior on the frontline to protect it.
Staging heart-pounding, espionage-style raids, Ofir Drori and his organization, The Last Great Ape (LAGA), have put countless poachers and traffickers of endangered species behind bars, and they have fought back against a Kafkaesque culture of corruption. Before Ofir arrived in Cameroon, no one had ever even tried.
The Last Great Ape follows a young Ofir on fantastical adventures as he crosses remote African lands by camel, on a horse, and in dug-out canoes, while living with exotic tribes and struggling against nature at its rawest: charging elephants and hyenas, flash floods, and the need to eat river algae and snails to stay alive. The story moves from places of extreme beauty to those of the darkest horror: the war zones of Sierra Leone and Liberia. Ofir begins to work as a photojournalist in order to expose his shocking encounter with war victims and child soldiers. His experiences forge in him a resolution to become an activist and to fight for justice.
The search for a cause eventually leads him to Cameroon. When Ofir discovers that no one is fighting to disprove Jane Goodall's dark prophesy that apes in the wild will be extinct in twenty years, he decides that he is the man to step in; because he knows he can make a difference, he sees it as his responsibility. And LAGA is born.
The Last Great Ape is a story of the fight against extinction and the tragedy of endangered worlds, not just of animals but of people struggling to hold onto their culture. This book reveals the intense beauty and strife that exist side by side in Africa, and Ofir makes the case that activism and dedication to a cause are still relevant in a cynical modern world. This dangerous and dramatic story is one of courage and hope and, most importantly, a search for meaning.
Review
"Ofir Drori is a man on a mission. LAGA has made a difference and shows no sign of stopping." BBC News
Review
"Intense and uncompromising. LAGA's success has galvanized groups around the world. Ivory dealers now warn one another of 'this dangerous man in black.'" Conservation Magazine
Synopsis
The incredible and enchanting story behind the Last Great Ape Organization, from the Kenyan savannah to the urban chaos of Sierra Leone and Cameroon, and the future of these majestic creatures.
Synopsis
Staging heart-pounding, espionage-style raids, Ofir Drori and his organization, The Last Great Ape (LAGA), have put countless poachers and traffickers of endangered species behind bars, and they have fought back against a Kafkaesque culture of corruption. Before Ofir arrived in Cameroon, no one had ever even tried.
The Last Great Ape follows a young Ofir on fantastical adventures as he crosses remote African lands by camel, on a horse, and in dug-out canoes, while living with exotic tribes and struggling against nature at its rawest: charging elephants and hyenas, flash floods, and the need to eat river algae and snails to stay alive. The story moves from places of extreme beauty to those of the darkest horror: the war zones of Sierra Leone and Liberia. Ofir begins to work as a photojournalist in order to expose his shocking encounter with war victims and child soldiers. His experiences forge in him a resolution to become an activist and to fight for justice.
The search for a cause eventually leads him to Cameroon. When Ofir discovers that no one is fighting to disprove Jane Goodall's dark prophesy that apes in the wild will be extinct in twenty years, he decides that he is the man to step in; because he knows he can make a difference, he sees it as his responsibility. And LAGA is born.
The Last Great Ape is a story of the fight against extinction and the tragedy of endangered worlds, not just of animals but of people struggling to hold onto their culture. This book reveals the intense beauty and strife that exist side by side in Africa, and Ofir makes the case that activism and dedication to a cause are still relevant in a cynical modern world. This dangerous and dramatic story is one of courage and hope and, most importantly, a search for meaning.
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Synopsis
The Last Great Ape Organization (LAGA) is responsible for the first wildlife-protection arrest in all of East Africa, turning the tide and setting the standard for wildlife protection for the modern era. Corruption and violence are so rampant that the protection of Africa's incredible wildlife falls by the wayside in many countries, or is exploited for profit. But there is one man who is willing to stand up against the bribes, threats, poverty, corruption, and chaos that threaten the existence of apes and other remarkable creatures, as well as thousands of innocent people.
Ofir Drori, a former Israeli soldier, visited Kenya prior to the start of his service in the Israeli Army and became enchanted with the entire continent, from its flora and fauna to the rich culture and history of its diverse people. What began as a journey on foot from Kenya through Ethiopia, Liberia, and Sierra Leone all the way to Cameroon, soon became his life's work. From Ofir's encounters with guerrillas and child soldiers, to the fascinating Masai and other "bush" people, The Last Great Ape reveals both the intense beauty and strife that plagues so much of East Africa.
There was absolutely no enforcement of anti-poaching or wildlife laws until Ofir and LAGA began staging heart-pounding espionage-style raids and bringing these criminals to justice, challenging the stifling culture of corruption and bringing hope for the future.
About the Author
Ofir Drori was born in Tel Aviv and was a journalist and photojournalist for National Geographic and various Israeli newspapers. Since his discharge from the Israeli Army, he has traveled to more than twenty-six countries in Africa. He founded LAGA in 2003.