Review: Zoo Story by Thomas French
by Jenners • 01/09/2011 • 4 Stars, F Authors, Non-Fiction, Z Titles • 62 Comments
Zoo Story by Thomas FrenchPublisher: Hyperion Books, 2010
Pages: 237
Genre: Non-Fiction
My Rating: 4 stars
I’ve always felt conflicted about zoos. On the one hand, I enjoy seeing the animals up close and personal. On the other hand, I always feel guilty. No matter how big or “friendly” their habitat, I still feel a bit melancholy when I see magnificent wild animals living their lives in such an unnatural way. Then I try to make myself feel better by telling myself that they might be better off in a zoo—safe from poachers and other dangers found in the wild. In short, like many others, I have a love/hate relationship with zoos. So when I saw journalist Thomas French’s book, Zoo Story: Life in the Garden of Captives, that purported to give an inside look at Tampas’ Lowry Park Zoo, I snapped it up immediately.
In addition to my curiosity about the inner workings of a zoo, I was also drawn to this book because we visited Lowry Park Zoo several times, and I always enjoy reading about places I’ve been to in real life. I was able to picture many of the places he described—and remember watching the baby elephant whose conception and birth is described in the book.
This book tells many stories—including the rise and fall of the zoo’s controversial CEO Lex Salisbury to the reign and tragic ends of the zoo’s “king” and “queen” (Herman the Orangutan and Enshalla the Tiger). The book opens with the transport of a group of elephants from Swaziland, Africa to Florida. Using the acquisition and journey of the elephants to highlight some of the issues and controversies surrounding zoos, French highlights the reasons why so many of us are conflicted about zoos. He tells how the elephants are losing their native habitat through their own voracious appetites and why this perilous journey might be their best hope of survival, yet he contrasts this with the way the zoo markets the elephants and may not really have their best interests at heart. In addition, French’s account of the death of a young Lowry Park zookeeper at the hands of a captive elephant gives the reader pause about whether keeping wild animals in a zoo is really the best decision for all involved.
The story that French is trying to tell is complex, and I think that both helps and hurts the book. On one hand, the reader gets to view the zoo from many different perspectives. We meet various keepers, the animals, and the zoo’s management. We get a glimpse of how a modern zoo must balance financial health, conservation efforts, and the well-being of the animals. In the case of Lowry Park Zoo, we also get an insider’s look at the controversy surrounding Lex Salisbury, who was both loved and reviled within the zoo. On the other hand, juggling so many different stories means that none of them get enough attention. I often found myself getting caught up in a particular story line and then being disappointed when I didn’t get more depth or follow-up. French has a wealth of material, and I wished he had written a longer book. Too often, I felt like the individual stories were given short shrift.
Despite that, I found the book to be interesting and eye-opening. Although it did little to help me settle my own misgivings about zoos in general, the book provided me with lots of food for thought. If you’re interested in learning more about zoos, I think this book does a good job highlighting their pros and cons. (And it would be a great Z book if you are doing the A to Z Title Challenge.) A word of caution though: If you are reading this book mostly because you are interested in animals, you might be disappointed. Although French takes the time to discuss various animals, he spends considerably more time on the various political machinations that affected the zoo during Salisbury’s stewardship.
I still can’t decide if I want to read this book or not. I’m sensitive about zoo quality because of my time behind the scenes and so I hate hearing about bad zoos. Blah. I’ll probably just skip this one unless it falls in my lap at some point.
I didn’t know you worked behind the scenes at the zoo!!! One thing that comes through loud and clear in the book is that zookeepers are very ambivalent about zoos. Most are trying their best but are hampered by management or budget. Lowry Park was interesting because it was known as a really bad zoo and then reinvented itself to become a good zoo but then got a bit out of control after its success. I could see that it might be too disturbing for you to read … but part of me longs to know what you think of it.
I took two classes on captive animal behavior where I observed and took data (lots and lots of data) at the zoo and aquarium. That’s when I started volunteering at the aquarium, cleaning tanks, feeding sharks and eels and seahorses, and all sorts of other fun and dirty stuff. I had to quit when I got pregnant because there were a lot of ladders involved.
I want to read books like this but I’m also scared to read them. I don’t want to be hypercritical and I don’t want to just be sad because I know how much better things could be for the animals. I think there’s a National Zoo one that I wanted to read but I forget what it’s called.
I think I need to look for that National Zoo book … reading this book kind of whetted my appetite for more on this topic.
I live near a big, award-winning zoo (Columbus, Ohio) and have always felt the way you did–but when you say the book settled your feelings, do you mean it assuaged some of your guilt? This sounds like a good book to read after the one I’m currently reading, Where the Wild Things Were, by William Stolzenburg.
It DIDN’T settle my feelings … I still have mixed feelings about zoos and I was interested to learn that many zookeepers have mixed feelings about them. I do think there is a place for zoos, and I hope that more think more about what is best of the animals than what is best for the people or the zoo’s bottom line. It is difficult topic … more so than I realized.
I’ll have to check out the Stolzenburg book you mentioned.
I am definitely against zoos. I like the idea of animal sanctuaries where they can roam free. I went once to the zoo in my city and felt so bad for the polar bears in summer and the tigers in small cages when they were obviously meant to run free. Don’t even get me started on the evils of the circus. I probably couldn’t read this book, anything about animals usually makes me sad.
Probably not a good read for you then … there are some pretty sad stories in there. I think animal sanctuaries is probably the best way to go.
An emotionally laden issue for sure. Zoo politics and the treatment of animals seem to bring out strong reactions in people.
I’m finding that out in the comments!
Thanks for the review of this book. I know just what you mean about zoos – its the polar bears that always get to me. I love Gerald Durrel’s books and would love to visit his zoo on Guernsey – I, perhaps mistakenly, always convince myself that this must be the best place to be for endangered animals.
Polar bears don’t seem to do well in zoos … at least zoos in hot environments. It doesn’t seem right to have polar bears in the San Diego zoo. The one I saw there looked like he was having mental problems. Poor dear.
For a second there I thought you’d said you’d seen the baby elephant’s conception and I did a double-take. I guess I’m getting more tired than I thought. I have mixed feelings about zoos too, but I do love to see the animals because they are so beautiful. I much prefer the wildlife safari model where people drive through in cars and the animals have room to roam. It seems like it would be a more natural and healthy environment for animals in captivity.
No — I didn’t see the conception!!! Though that would have been something (but not nearly what you might be picturing … she was artificially inseminated).
I do think the wild safari parks like we saw at Busch Gardens are probably healthier for the animals too.
I have those same feelings at zoos and circuses, so I know what you mean. This does sound interesting, but I’m a little disappointed that it didn’t help you figure your feelings out.
I know … I thought I’d end up feeling one way or the other after reading it. But it turns out that zoo keepers themselves are often conflicted about their own jobs. If they can’t feel good about it, then how can we?
it’s ok, I also believe in the constitutional right to protect yourself.
Fur…well, nothing, no material (most of them made with petrochemicals by the way) will keep a person as warm as natural fur. Way it traps air or something….so you tell a native Alaskan, in February north of the arctic circle, that they should live back the fur from a animal they hunted and killed and used totally for their very survival and exchange it for some nice fleece from L.L.Bean. So some might say, “well, it is ok for them, but not for this person over here because I think so.”
I don’t think animals should be abused, but I also do not think they are equal to human beings.
Ok, that might get your comment count up! lol
You make a good case … I could not tell an Eskimo to get LL Bean fleece.
Now I sit back and wait for PETA to find this comment and I’ll made sure to direct them all to you!; )
ok, I will say it.
I love zoos.
I think that most of these animals would not be alive if not in a zoo and I think zoo have had a positive effects in educating people about these animals and instilling a desire to protect those in the wild. and many have helped in breeding programs for many species that are endangered.
yes, they have been and no doubt are some bad zoos out there, that mistreat animals. but lets fix them, not condemn the idea.
but them I also eat meat.
and are all in favor of owing animals as pets.
and to tell you the truth, I can make a case for some wearing of fur.
Ooops. i think PETA may be at my front door.
I shall not be held responsible for anything violent that may happen to you as a result of this comment. : )
I do think zoos have a place in the world … and many do good things for animals yet I still feel guilty as heck when I visit them. Curious about your case for wearing fur ….
I, too, have always been conflicted about zoos. I am, pretty against the idea of keeping exotic animals in captivity (I don’t eat meat because I don’t even want domestic animals in captivity) but at the same time, so many zoos are affiliated with ecological research and conservation efforts that they often do a lot of good to the animals of the captive species still in wild. Also, they obviously, especially these days, bring immense knowledge of the struggling wild to suburban and city populations who otherwise wouldn’t feel such a pull to magnificent animals. Also, though my PETA/zooabolitionist side says NO ZOOS EVER (!) I will say that MOST zoos, at least the ones near us (Atlanta, Miami, Orlando) work to help their captive buddies live in the best and most realistic (as much as possible…) conditions.
Phew! Any way, I clearly have an interest on the topic (sheesh, didn’t think I’d REALLY felt one way or another when I started responding to this…oops!) so this book sounds like it needs to come live at my house sometime soon…;O)
You do seem to have some strong opinions … and I share your feelings — zoos do some good as well as bad; it is hard to wholesale condemn them. It seems like you should read this book!!!!
I want to read this one SO BAD. One of my coworkers told me about it. I love the cover. So cute.
It is a fascinating book … it made me want to read more about zoos. I’d send you my copy but I promised it to someone else already!
I’m conflicted about zoos too and this would certainly be eye opening. That’s why I support places like The Wilds in Ohio. http://www.thewilds.org/ Seems more humane, but still…
The Wilds seems like a good approach … one that I could feel better about than a typical zoo. But I know what you mean … ideally, these animals would be allowed to live where they need to live without interference from us humans.
I can’t remember what I rated this, either a 3 or 4. I do remember not liking that there was more about the politics than anything.
Are you going to review Strangers of the Feast? What’d you think about it? I liked it.
I am going to review Strangers at the Feast — I have a strange compulsion that I must review every book I read (no matter how long it takes me to get to it). I liked it too … but it might have suffered a bit as it was the first book I read after my mom died and that kind of affected my view of it because of my state of mind at the time.
I have mixed emotions too but I try to think of it in terms of education and awareness. With a son who’s going into wildlife preservation, I am more aware of everything now. I might pick this up! Thank you.
If your son is going into this field, I think you should definitely read it — if only to see the hardships that will face him and the issues around it. I think zoos can do a lot of good, but they face challenges in balancing their conservation efforts with their money-making efforts.
I grew up in San Diego and always had a pass to go to the Zoo and Wild Animal Park. I went several times a year. I guess I never really thought about it. I do feel bad for animals that are kept in small areas that are not similar to their natural habit. This sounds like an interesting book. I guess I should pay more attention to the zoos I choose to patronize.
San Diego is supposed to be one of the better zoos that pioneered the more natural habitats for animals. But, when I visited this past April, I saw a very disturbed looking polar bear that made me feel awful. He didn’t seem happy at all.
I feel the same unsureness about zoos. I love being able to see animals i would never see otherwise but I also wonder about their care and feel sad they are locked up, unable to run free.
Reading this book really didn’t give me any clear answers … but it highlights a lot of the issues that zoos face and how animals need them in some ways. It is a confusing issue for sure.
I also was kind of shocked by this book. It was good though.
It was good but disturbing too. I don’t think I could ever look at a zoo in the same way again.
I agree with your conflicting feelings. I just visited the National Zoo last week when we were in DC and I was quite disappointed — the cheetah was in such a small enclosure and looked so sad. Of course zoos are getting better — I grew up near the Detroit Zoo and I remember how horrible the big cat building was, just cages inside a concrete building. It was awful. They had chimpanzee shows too, where the chimps were dressed up and rode bicycles around.
I know that zoos have gotten better since “back in the day” but this book did make you aware of all the issues zoos face and how we (as visitors) help make it worse.
I can’t imagine the complication that might arise in such an environment. I too am so mixed about zoos. The one I boycott is Niagara Falls Marine Land. They have a pen full of bears, and from the reports I have read their diet is pathetic, visitors throw cones of marshmallows it just kills me. I’ve decided that is not a tourist stop my boys and I will be making. So Zoos????????????? I don’t know. Thanks for your review.
Oh wow … that sounds awful. If nothing else, this book makes you realize that all zoos are not created equal. I think I actually may have been to that park one time — never again.
This sounds really interesting! I really love zoos, but I get sad if I go to zoos that don’t seem very good for the animals. I love the one we have here, because they build huge elaborate environments for the animals that try to mimic the area they’re from as best as possible. But I’ve seen zoos where the elephants are put in this tiny area to just stand all day, and that in particular makes me so sad. I love that the elephants at my zoo have this huge area with a water hole and a sand pile and all sorts of stuff and lots of room to walk around…
I have found that I do enjoy zoos where the animals seem lively and active and somewhat happy — and often they are the zoos that don’t have too many animals but the ones that they have, they try to do their best by them. I’m glad you have a good zoo near you.
I always feel sorry for the animals in the zoo but we still go to them quite a bit.
I know… I feel this conflict yet my son loves to go to them. It is a strange feeling of discomfort that this creates.
I am planning on reading this soon but thought it would be more about the animals. My husband read and liked it and told me I would like it too. We both enjoy the zoo and go frequently. Here’s a link to his review if you’re interested: http://ourstack.blogspot.com/2010/07/zoo-story-by-thomas-french.html
I definitely want to read his review … I love seeing what others think about books I read. There is quite a bit of animal stuff but much more about the politics of the zoo. I would love if he could write another book but just focus on the keeper perspective.
I share your feelings about zoos. As a kid I remember visiting the Central Park Zoo in NYC. After a mad dash to the monkey house my next stop was always to see the black leopard they had. The poor thing did nothing but pace its cage constantly
I know!!! We were at the San Diego Zoo this past April (which I’ve always heard is supposed to be so fantastic) and there was this one polar bear who looked like he was mentally ill … he kept pacing in one small area and looked miserable. I felt terrible that I was there in the zoo to see him.
I’ve always been a bit leery of zoos myself. I think I would enjoy this book for the different perspective it would offer.
It was fascinating to learn more about zoos from “inside.” Reading this book made me realize I want to know more.
I’ve always had the same dilemma with zoos…and circuses.
I think anything where animals are not living as they are meant to live creates those feelings.
I completely understand your conflict. I know zookeepers who share it themselves!
Throughout the book, you get the same feeling from the keepers — they do their very best for the animals yet feel conflicted that they are in the position to care for them in the first place.
This sounds interesting… I thought I learned a lot about circus’s from Water For Elephants, this looks like the book to learn about zoos.
It was eye-opening but I wanted more!!! I think I’ll need to seek out some other books on this topic.
I feel the same as you about zoos but have gotten even more negative about them over time. And yet, simultaneously, animals have gotten more endangered over time! It’s a horrible thing either way….
It really is one of those issues that are impossible to feel good about either way.
I feel the same way about zoos and don’t enjoy visiting them much at all. We haven’t been since our kids were really little. I know that there are some really good ones out there though and it would be nice if a big zoo vet would write about his or her experiences within the zoo. Do you know of any other “zoo stories” like that?
I don’t know of any zoo stories like that … but reading this book made me realize that I want to read more about this topic. If I find one, I’ll let you know.
I have read a little bit about this book, and had thought it would be an interesting read for me, but your very thorough and intelligent take on it makes me think I might not enjoy it as much as I’d hoped. I am still mildly intrigued by it, but it doesn’t sound like what I had been hoping for in respect to the focus it gives to the actual residents of the zoo. Thanks for the very well written and thoughtful post on this one. You really helped me out.
Glad to be of service. It did make me realize that I want to see if there are other books about zoos out there that will give me more of what I’m looking for — I think it is a subject that would be appealing to lots of readers.