Description
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.
About the Author
Phillip T. Robinson directed the veterinary medical program at the San Diego Zoo for ten years. He then became director of veterinary services and animal resources at the University of California, San Diego. A founding member of the board specialty of zoological medicine of the American College of Zoological Medicine and a past president of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians, he has also worked on the medical problems of animals in private collections and has been on the design team for several major zoo-animal medical facilities in the United States.
Reviews
The 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 Booklist A thorough tour of zoos...His professional concern for animal care qualifies him to present fairly a comprehensive look. Library Journal Robinson'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 San Diego Union-Tribune People 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 Animal Keepers' Forum: The Journal of the American Association of Zoo Keepers Life 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 New Scientist His plain-spoken descriptions of these close encounters make for the most vivid reading. -- Julia M. Klein Washington Post The book is compelling and ought to appeal to zoo lovers of all stripes. American Scientist Many lessons and much entertainment for all in this fascinating, frank and fair-minded book. -- Sally Walker Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 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. -- Kirk Suedmeyer Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine Robinson'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
Book Information
ISBN 9780231132497
Author Phillip T. Robinson
Format Paperback
Page Count 320
Imprint Columbia University Press
Publisher Columbia University Press