Jack Ewing's love affair with the rainforest began in 1970 when, in search of new opportunities for plying his Bachelor of Science degree and his skills as a cattle rancher, he left his native Colorado and moved his wife, Diane, and their young family to the jungles of Costa Rica. His ever-growing fascination with the rainforest, however, soon prompted his transformation into environmentalist and naturalist.A natural-born storyteller, Jack's articles about life in the rainforest appear regularly in Costa Rican publications, and he often speaks to environmental, student and ecological traveler groups. He is currently president of two environmental organizations, ASANA and FUNDANTA. His expertise on biological corridor projects is much sought after. "What we must do to save the rainforest," says Jack, "is connect the parks, refuges and reserves with biological corridors and then teach the people how to make a living from these natural areas without damaging or destroying them. If we want conservation to work, we have to make it profitable."Jack and Diane live on internationally acclaimed Hacienda Baru National Wildlife Refuge.
"Jack Ewing's thirty-year adventure in a Costa Rican jungle has
produced a book full of infectious love and amazing lore." - Daniel
Quinn, award winning author of Ishmael
"I taught about leaf cutter ants to my sixth grade class and the
children were thrilled and amazed. Your pieces on Baird's tapir
were so good I simply read them to the class, out of which they
decided to raise money to adopt a tapir. Thank you!" - Stu Summer,
middle school teacher - Hillsdale, New York
"Written in language accessible to everyone, the 32 stories in this
book delve deep into the fascinating world of Costa Rica's tropical
wildlife, skillfully intertwining ecological facts with current
environmental and social issues which affect all of us. Even
trained scientists will find something new in the personal, and
often humorous, observations in these pages. This book is perfect
reading for every inquisitive traveler to Costa Rica." - Rob
Rachowiecki, author of Lonely Planet Costa Rica guidebook (the
first five editions)
"Jack's essays offer great insight into tropical natural history,
rural Costa Rican culture and environmental issues. The natural
history is so well done and the environmental insights so
painlessly integrated that I use the book in my tropical ecology
and conservation course." - Richard Andrus, Professor - Binghamton
University, New York "A fascinating collection of stories and
essays from Jack Ewing's decades of observation of tropical flora
and fauna. This book is the fun way to learn about biological
corridors and the interrelatedness of all creatures." - Beatrice
Blake, author of The New Key to Costa Rica, 17th edition "Monkeys
are Made of Chocolate is a tapestry of stories as rich as the land
from which they came. Whether you like reading about huge snakes
which always seem to come in pairs, the intelligent behavior of
sloths, the ancient craft of boat building by digging out a tree
trunk, or how toucans aren't quite as cute as they appear, this
book is a treasure trove of Costa Rican life and natural history."
- Georgie Wingfield, Agronomist - Sussex, England "In this
well-crafted selection of short stories, Jack conjures up the
intricacies of the natural world as only one who has been deeply
imbedded for decades can do. In the manner of a master storyteller,
Jack Ewing mesmerizes us as he takes us on wonderful trips in and
around the rainforest. A must-read for anyone who has ever been in
a rainforest, or is planning on visiting one." - Excerpts from
Quepolandia, a Costa Rican English monthly "Monkeys Are Made Of
Chocolate has served as the theme setter for numerous family
discussions in our home-schooling family. Yes, the book is
educational, but it is also a thought-provoking adventure into the
questions that deal with some of the most basic and elusive issues
confronting man today." - Ben Vaughn, editor of Dominical.Biz
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