Author - R.L. Garner

Richard Lynch Garner (1848–1920) was an American naturalist and one of the earliest researchers to attempt scientific studies of primate language. A former teacher and self-taught zoologist, he became known for his expeditions to Africa and for using a phonograph to record ape vocalizations—an innovative method for his time. Though some of his claims were later contested or discredited, Garner’s pioneering spirit and attention to primate behavior opened the door for future research in animal communication and cognitive ethology.

Apes and Monkeys

by R.L. Garner

In Apes and Monkeys: Their Life and Language, R.L. Garner presents a vivid firsthand account of his attempts to study the intelligence and communication of primates. Traveling deep into the African jungle and American zoos, Garner sets out to observe and record the behavior, sounds, and social structures of apes and monkeys. He writes with conviction, framing his work as both a scientific mission and a challenge to the prevailing assumptions of his time.
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