Sisters of the Jungle by Keriann McGoogan
The Trailblazing Women Who Shaped the Study of Wild Primates
Sisters of the Jungle: The Trailblazing Women Who Shaped the Study of Wild Primates by Keriann McGoogan offers a behind-the-scenes look at key female scientists who have influenced the study of wild primates. Some women profiled, like Jane Goodall and Dian Fossey, were familiar to me, but others, like Linda Fedigan, Biruté Galdikas, Jeanne Altmann, Sarah Hrdy, and Alison Jolly, were not.
The women profiled studied chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, baboons, and lemurs as well as other primates. Their research took them to places like Rwanda, Borneo, Madagascar, Indonesia, Kenya, India, Costa Rica, and other locales, and McGoogan gives readers of what field conditions were like in those different places.
Though primarily focused on female primatologists, Sisters of the Jungle also includes a profile of one man, Louis Leakey, because of the importance of his support for Goodall, Fossey, and Galdikas in launching their research.
Sisters of the Jungle isn’t a theoretical book written by someone who has studied the featured individuals from the comfort of a desk or library. After starting out as an English major at the University of Calgary, McGoogan switched her major to Primatology. She did a Master’s in Belize studying wild howler monkeys, and then travelled to Madagascar for her PhD on endangered lemurs, so she knows first-hand the challenges and difficulties of primate research. In some chapters, she provides additional depth by sharing details from her field studies. Her background in primatology also gives her an understanding of the significance of each person’s contributions.
McGoogan demonstrates strong storytelling skills, shaping the chapters in interesting ways rather than relying on strict chronology. There is a logical flow from one chapter to the next.
Sisters of the Jungle provides an understanding of some barriers the women featured in the book had to overcome—traversing rugged and forbidding terrain, dealing with governments and red tape, and enduring sexist treatment and skepticism from colleagues being examples. Some of the women balanced children and career. Many were deeply concerned about conservation, and made a significant impact beyond their research.
Part of McGoogan’s inspiration for writing the book was to gain a better understanding of the reasons women are drawn to study wild primates. She shares conjectures made by herself and other researchers, like Linda Fedigan, throughout the book.
In a publicity sheet from Douglas & McIntyre promoting Sisters of the Jungle, McGoogan notes that she hopes the stories of these women will inspire readers with similar interests not to give up on pursuing their dreams, in spite of adversity. She also expresses a hope that Sisters of the Jungle will inspire the next generation of female scientists.
While prospective or current female scientists may well find the book of interest, it would also appeal to readers interested in animals, primate research, and the history and achievements of trailblazing women, as well as those who enjoy biographies.
About the Author
Keriann McGoogan holds her PhD in Biological Anthropology from the University of Toronto and her Master’s from the University of Calgary. When she’s not writing, McGoogan volunteers as a board member for Planet Madagascar, a charity that aims to conserve Madagascar’s unique biodiversity and help the local Malagasy community.
About the Reviewer
Lisa Timpf lives in Simcoe, Ontario, where she writes poetry, book reviews, short stories, and creative nonfiction. Lisa’s speculative poetry collections Cats and Dogs in Space (2025) and In Days to Come (2022) are available from Hiraeth Publishing. She is a member of SF Canada and the Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association. You can find out more about Lisa’s writing projects at http://lisatimpf.blogspot.com/. Lisa is also on Bluesky, @lisatimpf.bsky.social
Book Details
Publisher: Douglas & McIntyre
Publication Date: 16/09/2025
Print length: 320 pages
ISBN-10: 1771624450
ISBN-13: 978-1771624459