A chimpanzee in the cellar - Pat Cavendish O'Neill

A chimpanzee in the cellar - Pat Cavendish O'Neill - 2012 - Jinathan Ball - Paperback in good condition.

ONeill has lived an extraordinary life that has been defined by her love of animals, starting with a cheetah that her mother, the famous Australian heiress Enid Lindeman, rescued in Kenya when ONeill was a young girl. Her first memoir focused on her lioness, Tana, while this book is all about another animal that stole her heart a chimpanzee named Kalu.

ONeill described how Kalu had been rescued from the Congo in 1990 and arrived in South Africa when it was about 10 years old, saying that it was brought up in her bedroom wearing nappies. She spoke about their daily ritual of lying with her head in Kalus lap and said that sometimes Kalu would be upset with her and she would then have to figure out what she did wrong to get the chimpanzee to stop sulking. Kalu is not without her own faults though, ONeill recalls a memorable incident where Kalu broke into the wine cellar: I found her pouring water over her head, she was impossible for two days.

Kalu now lives with about 20 other primates in an animal sanctuary that ONeill set up on her farm, Broadlands in Somerset West. The proceeds from the book will go towards the animal trust that funds the sanctuary. Kalu is just one of ONeills many animals. Vorster, who has visited ONeill on the farm, described it as an incredible experience: Pat is trailed by 12 dogs at a time, including two Great Danes!

ONeill is known for her house full of animals, most of whom were raised in her bedroom: At the moment I just have four dogs and six cats in my bed. The one Great Dane is such a mothers boy, hell only eat his food if Im standing with him.

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