Laurel Neme writes about wildlife and endangered species out of passion for animals, and to educate and inspire her readers to action. She recently published her first children’s book.
Laurel travels the world, researching and writing. She contributes to National Geographic online, hosts "The WildLife" podcast, and is author of
the 2009 book Animal Investigators about the world's
first wildlife forensics lab dedicated to investigating poaching, smuggling and
other wildlife crimes. Laurel holds a graduate degree in public policy from the
University of Michigan, and a PhD in public and international affairs from
Princeton.
In 2014, Bunker Hill published Laurel’s picture book, Orangutan Houdini, about a real-life zoo orangutan, Fu Manchu. This animal loved to escape from his enclosure—and free his orangutan buddies. Once out, the apes frolicked in the trees. It wasn’t about running away; Fu Manchu enjoyed outwitting his keepers. The book tells how he did it – and his reward for his cleverness.
I caught up with Laurel in Vermont. We talked about writing, wildlife conservation,
and making global connections with kids. Excerpts of our conversation follow.
Laurel, thanks for talking with me. I’m excited to share your
thoughts with GROG readers. How
did you come to write Orangutan Houdini?
In researching my first book, Animal
Investigators, about solving crimes against endangered species, I was
disheartened by the prevalence of apes in the illegal pet trade. I wrote
several articles about orangutans, addressing orangutan biology, how
orphans learn to be wild, and threats to the species.
I’ve been fortunate to meet some very
special, and devious, orangutan individuals, and the more I get to know
them, the more I’m enchanted. I love their intelligence and similarity to humans.
They’re problem solvers, like us, and they thrive on challenging
themselves. They also have a sense of humor. I heard many stories that showcased
their ingenuity, with Fu Manchu just one of many examples.
Hearing that Fu was awarded honorary membership
in the American Association of Locksmiths tickled my funny bone, and I
knew kids would enjoy the story too. I contacted Jerry Stones (the
zookeeper) and others who knew Fu, and quickly came to realize what a
special ape Fu was. What makes the story so powerful is that it’s true.
Yes –
truth and humor are a potent combination! How did you first get interested in
wildlife and wildlife protection?
For as long as I can remember, I adored animals.
Like many young girls, I was obsessed with horses, and spent time after
school and on weekends at a local stable. I wanted to be a veterinarian
for large animals, like James Herriot, and read his All Creatures Great and Small
books voraciously. I also loved Hugh Lofting’s Dr. Doolittle series, and imagined “talking to the animals” like Jane Goodall.
My mom was a science teacher (and later a
writer), and we’d watch Jacques Cousteau television specials. I started
to dream of traveling to Africa when my parents went to Kenya and Tanzania
in the 1970’s. They sent back daily postcards to my sister and me, and I
was mesmerized by their photos of lions basking in the sunset under
Kilimanjaro.
Now, things have come full circle and my
childhood passion has endured.
You
were trained in public policy; when did you decide to become a writer?
I became passionate about writing when I saw how
vividly words influence actions. South African writer André Brink, a
leading voice of dissent against apartheid, was a great inspiration. (Brink
died just last week, at the age of 79.) Brink published essays about writing in a state of siege, describing the writer’s role “as a conscience in the world.”
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Author Andre Brink. Photo by Seamus Kearney, 2007
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"The revolution I am involved in as a writer, is a revolution in the conscience of my people. . . . Indeed, it is a slow process. One can reach one person here, another there; after a long time we may still be only a handful. But suddenly they [will be] a crowd.”--André Brink
What
do you want your writing legacy to be?
I’ve been fortunate to see how my stories
affect people and reverberate down the line. About a year after my first book, Animal
Investigators, came out, I received an unsolicited email from an investigator
with the Brazilian Federal Police. He said, "I've never had the
opportunity to really thank you for the book, so I would like you to know
it was very inspiring and, in some aspects, helped me in the finalization of ‘JURUPARI,’ our recent operation against illegal logging
in the Amazon."
I contacted him then, and learned that in
Operation Jurupari, the Brazilian Federal Police uncovered a massive
illegal logging scheme that caused an estimated $500 million in damage to
the Amazon rainforest across almost 200 square miles. That’s the size
of California or Spain. The list of the more than 90 people arrested
read like a "who's who" of the forestry industry and
included high-level government officials, business owners and private
landowners.
I’ve since become friends with that investigator,
and he’s now a leader in wildlife law enforcement. You never know how your
words will affect somebody.
After
writing regular online National Geographic contributions, and Animal Investigators for adults, what made you want
to write for children?
When my son was little, I often told him
stories. Sometimes he’d give me characters as a launching point, and other
times I’d relate a true story about an animal I knew, like Fu Manchu. I
started writing the stories down and sharing them, and found that they are
more than fun tales—these stories provide insights into the animal species, and
inspire readers to care about what happens to them. And when people care,
they’re inspired to protect the animals.
Plus, in writing my articles I often come across
interesting or funny nuggets that I can’t help but think would make great books
for kids.
What
are your hopes for Orangutan Houdini?
I hope children come away with both a smile
and a love of orangutans. Orangutans are endangered, and there is a lot we
can do to help them. But the first step is to care, and I hope meeting Fu
will lead readers to want to help.
A couple months ago, after I did several
school visits for Orangutan Houdini, a mom wrote me saying, “thank
you for stirring up the hearts and minds of my young children.” A teacher
also emailed, telling me that after my visit her students wore orange to
raise awareness about the plight of orangutans. I still can’t stop
smiling!
How
else might kids get involved in wildlife conservation?
There are
many things kids and their parents can do to help protect orangutans and
other endangered species. Most important is to create awareness. The orange-wearing kids are a great example: simple, yet effective.
Kids can write letters to their local newspapers,
or share articles on social media. They also get creative. One girl, Allie
Boyer from California, raised awareness when she was just nine years old
by creating “Borneo Bob,” a flat cutout of an orangutan that “traveled”
from child to child with a letter explaining the plight of orangutans,
similar to Flat Stanley.
Kids can also share information through school
projects. That’s how it started for Madison Vorva and Rhiannon Tomtishen,
two Girl Scouts who garnered national media attention for trying to get the
bakers of Girl Scout cookies to change the source of their palm oil,
because palm oil plantations are damaging orangutan habitat.
Another key way people can help orangutans is to
write to companies that produce the products they use, and ask if the palm
oil in them is from deforestation-free sources. That simple act tells
companies that their customers care, and it makes a difference
You can also support organizations
that help animals. There are many good ones, like Orangutan Outreach and
Orangutan Land Trust (for orangutans), David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
(for elephants), Animals Asia (for bears) and many, many more. It doesn’t
have to be orangutans. Kids can have an impact on whatever might be their
passion.
My website has detailed suggestions
for actions to help animals. I developed a Teacher’s Guide in
collaboration with educators and orangutan scientists. It’s a free
download on my author page. In addition to activities for language arts, mathematics, science
and social studies, it includes ideas to inspire students to
take action to help orangutans or other species.
For
readers inspired to pick up Orangutan Houdini, where is it available?
It’s available from the usual booksellers as
well as from the publisher, Bunker Hill Publishing. If you want a signed
copy, it can be ordered and shipped from my local bookseller, Flying PigBookstore in Shelburne, Vermont.
Laurel Neme’s Coordinates:
Website: www.laurelneme.com
Twitter: @LaurelNeme
