Life at the Zoo: Behind the Scenes with the Animal Doctors
Please Do Not Annoy, torment, pester, plague, molest, worry, badger, harry, persecute, irk, bullyrag, vex, disquiet, grate, beset, bother, tease, nettle, tantalize or ruffle the Animals. -- sign at zoo\ Since the early days of traveling menageries and staged attractions that included animal acts, balloon ascents, and pyrotechnic displays, zoos have come a long way. The Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes in Paris, founded in 1793, didn't offer its great apes lessons in parenting or perform dental...
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Seasoned veterinarian Phillip T. Robinson shares his remarkable stories of working at the world-famous San Diego Zoo. In vivid detail he describes encounters with foulmouthed parrots, gum-chewing chimps, and stinky flamingoes, and the sometimes dangerous consequences of both human and animal interactions. He relates insider stories such as escaping the affections of a leopard who wanted to be a lap cat, training a gorilla to hold her newborn baby gently (instead of scrubbing the floor with it), operating on a semi-anesthetized elephant, and figuring out how to feed koalas in captivity, as well as why the zoo's polar bears were turning green. Robinson's wildly entertaining tales illuminate the hazards and rewards of a world in which the "natural" and "unnatural" can collide, insightfully tracing the evolution of zoos from banal menageries to important conservation institutions. Library Journal Robinson, a retired San Diego Zoo veterinarian, offers a thorough tour of zoos covering their history and issues of animal care, feeding, handling, and exhibition. Veterinary care, he reveals, has come a long way but is still sometimes primitive. Lacking prior cases, veterinarians often face uncertain treatment options (and some of the photographs show that this situation may be unsettling). The author highlights the veterinarian's sometimes adversarial relationships with the rest of the zoo staff adversarial until an animal falls ill, of course. His professional concern for animal care qualifies him to present fairly a comprehensive look at the animal welfare debate. An annotated bibliography is included. Readers looking more for humorous anecdotes than scientific insight should turn to Peter Brazaitis's You Belong in a Zoo!. Recommended for all public and academic libraries. Alvin Hutchinson, Smithsonian Inst. Libs., Washington, DC Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
1Intern at the zoo : an eclectic orientation92Too early for the autopsy : fitting in at the zoo193Growing pains : educating the menagerie makers354The keepers : nurturing the health of animals435Zoo babies : promoting motherhood596Exhibit making : creating zoo ecosystems697Creature comfort : the power of microenvironments1118What's this thing? : searching for the normal1219Holding the tiger : zoos say yes to drugs13110Finding the sick in the zoo : seeking out disease and discomfort15311Feeding the ark : the nutritional wisdom of animals17112Getting closer to animals : Judas goats and alpaca coats18713So, you work at the zoo? : employees, visitors, and fence jumpers19714Animal cases and chases : and some things better kept to myself20515Zoo regulars : coworkers without titles22516Ethical captivity : animal well-being in zoos23317What a zoo should be, and ought not be269
\ Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society - Sally Walker\ Many lessons and much entertainment for all in this fascinating, frank and fair-minded book.\ \ \ \ \ \ Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine - Kirk Suedmeyer\ The reader will come away with a better appreciation for zoo evolution and the difficulties faced as zoos cope with mounting political and fiscal pressures while trying to conserve dwindling wild animal populations.\ \ \ \ American ScientistThe book is compelling and ought to appeal to zoo lovers of all stripes.\ \ \ \ \ \ Journal of the Bombay Natural History SocietyMany lessons and much entertainment for all in this fascinating, frank and fair-minded book.\ — Sally Walker\ \ \ \ \ \ Journal of Zoo and Wildlife MedicineThe reader will come away with a better appreciation for zoo evolution and the difficulties faced as zoos cope with mounting political and fiscal pressures while trying to conserve dwindling wild animal populations.\ — Kirk Suedmeyer\ \ \ \ \ \ Animal Keepers' ForumRobinson's wildly entertaining tales of illuminate the hazards and rewards of a world in which the "natural" and "unnatural" can collide, insightfully tracing the evolution of zoos from banal menageries to important conservation institutions.\ \ \ \ \ \ Animal Keepers' Forum: The Journal of the American Association of Zoo KeepersPeople not involved in the zoo field will probably enjoy this behind the scenes look into what happens at the zoo. It is also a good addition to any zookeeper's personal collection if you enjoy reading zoo related books.\ — Nannette Driver\ \ \ \ \ \ BooklistThe author entertains while educating the reader...an excellent introduction to the zoo world...the best single book to give teens who want to work in a zoo.\ \ \ \ \ \ San Diego Union-TribuneRobinson's wry tone, coupled with his intimate knowledge of zoo animals and melancholic love for them, makes Life at the Zoo eerily compelling.\ \ \ \ \ \ Animal Keepers' Forum: The Journal of the American Association of Zoo KeepersPeople not involved in the zoo field will probably enjoy this behind the scenes look into what happens at the zoo. It is also a good addition to any zookeeper's personal collection if you enjoy reading zoo related books.\ \ \ \ \ \ New ScientistLife at the Zoo is more than a personal memoir of an illustrious career, it is a wise and witty reflection on all aspects of zoo life.\ \ \ \ \ \ Washington PostHis plain-spoken descriptions of these close encounters make for the most vivid reading.\ \ \ \ \ \ BooklistThe author entertains while educating the reader...an excellent introduction to the zoo world...the best single book to give teens who want to work in a zoo.\ — Nancy Bent\ \ \ \ \ \ San Diego Union-TribuneRobinson's wry tone, coupled with his intimate knowledge of zoo animals and melancholic love for them, makes Life at the Zoo eerily compelling.\ — Kate Callen\ \ \ \ \ \ Animal Keepers' Forum: The Journal of the American Association of Zoo KeepersPeople not involved in the zoo field will probably enjoy this behind the scenes look into what happens at the zoo. It is also a good addition to any zookeeper's personal collection if you enjoy reading zoo related books.\ — Nannette Driver\ \ \ \ \ \ New ScientistLife at the Zoo is more than a personal memoir of an illustrious career, it is a wise and witty reflection on all aspects of zoo life.\ — John Bonner\ \ \ \ \ \ Washington PostHis plain-spoken descriptions of these close encounters make for the most vivid reading.\ — Julia M. Klein\ \ \ \ \ \ Library JournalRobinson, a retired San Diego Zoo veterinarian, offers a thorough tour of zoos covering their history and issues of animal care, feeding, handling, and exhibition. Veterinary care, he reveals, has come a long way but is still sometimes primitive. Lacking prior cases, veterinarians often face uncertain treatment options (and some of the photographs show that this situation may be unsettling). The author highlights the veterinarian's sometimes adversarial relationships with the rest of the zoo staff adversarial until an animal falls ill, of course. His professional concern for animal care qualifies him to present fairly a comprehensive look at the animal welfare debate. An annotated bibliography is included. Readers looking more for humorous anecdotes than scientific insight should turn to Peter Brazaitis's You Belong in a Zoo!. Recommended for all public and academic libraries. Alvin Hutchinson, Smithsonian Inst. Libs., Washington, DC Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.\ \
