The Aye-Aye and I

Gerald Durrell¿s last book, The Aye-Aye and I records his final animal-collecting expedition, a trip to Madagascar in 1990, and his efforts to save the elusive and mythical lemuroid known as the Aye-Aye. Prompted by the country¿s radical deforestation, and slash-and-burn agriculture, Durrell, his wife, and their team of zoologists embark on a mission to capture and conserve the speciesamp;mdash;distinguished by its `giant, chisel-like teeth¿, `round, hypnotic eyes¿ and large `spoon-like ears¿. During the course of their journey, they encounter golden river snakes, flat-tailed tortoises, the gentle lemurs of Lac Alaotra, and the Malagasy chameleons. Durrell¿s exuberant descriptions of the island, its people and ecology are among his best.