Customer Reviews

Keepers of the Ark: An Elephants View of Captivity

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This books reveals what most people -- who have ever cared to ask -- know what is involved in keeping and maintaining elephants in captivity.

This author's behind the scenes look at the inherent cruelty involved in most elephant related training practices is especially applicable when elephants are trained for rides and circus type acts (even if it is not called a circus).

I believe that anyone who frequents zoos or circuses needs to read this book to make a more informed decision on the PR campaigns and practices they are supporting by buying tickets for admission.

We are told about the education and conservation that they purport to support, but is this true for the mass majority of them?

Read it and really find out "When Elephants Weep"

I found this book to be nothing short of a gripping and devestating account of the dilemma facing captive elephants and their keepers. Ryan writes out of highly personal convinction and candor. The result is an intimate and revealing memoir I found difficult to put down. This is not a comprehensive guide to elephant captivity or training methods and should not be purchased as such. Instead, it should be read as one man's experience and eventual confrontation with a sad and pervasive mentality surrounding treatment of captive animals. Ryan succeeds in making us (those of us with compassion for our fellow animals) frustrated, horrified and desperate to believe in an alternative to violent methods of keeping elephants.

My hearty congratulations to the author for his courage. Essential reading for policy makers, animal keepers and those frequenting zoos. There must be a better way!

Daniel Ferguson
Montreal, Canada

I am so happy that someone who has worked for the Zoological Society of San Diego had the courage to stand up to this organization and expose the truth. As a former employee of 12 years, I know first hand of the abuse, neglect and mismanagement of animals that goes on on a regular basis. I worked in one of the shows and have seen animals hit, worked to exhaustion and withheld food in order to get them to perform. People need to realize that zoos are nothing more than a money making business under the guise of conservation, education and research. Thank you Mr. Ryan for speaking the truth and standing up to the "Evil Empire."

Really enjoyed this book. Found it to be informative and very interesting.

I think it's hilarious that, in defending her father against Mr. Whitt's crticism of his poor grammar and spelling, Ms. Ross-Ryan uses words and grammar that are unrecognizable as English and do, indeed, make her father look like a literary genius. The apple really does not fall far from the tree.

As an Animal Rights activist, I ordered this book with greatenthusiasm, thinking that I would get a lot of first hand informationabout how animals are trained and treated in the zoo and circus industries. My first impression of "Keepers of the Ark" was when I got the envelope in the mail and thought, "that's an awfully small book for ..[the price]." Especially for a paperback!

After reading the book I can honestly say that it was informative, enlightening, and even enjoyable. But I was also taken aback at how lousy the editing was! There were spelling errors, grammar errors, run on sentences, just like as if it was taken directly from someone's notebook with no editing what so ever. Considering that the author really lays into the management people above him while he worked in the WAP for not having any college degrees (while he did), it rings as being pretty hypocritical that the published work looks so bad from the grammar standpoint.

And the book really is too expensive for a 180+ page paperback.

The author gets B, and the publisher a D-.

I would suggest checking it out from the library instead of buying it.

This is a great book! it describes the daily happenings in the African Elephant Barn at the San Diego Wild Animal Park.

I must admit that reading the review I wrote before is quite funny. I thought that you, Kathy, being so "intelligent" would notice the date realize that I wrote that 3, almost 4 years ago. I was 11/12 when that was written and now I am 16 going to be 17. So I'm sorry but your attempt at a "Low Blow" has failed. Maybe three years from now you can critize this review.

First off I would like to say to Mr. Mark Witt, that reveiw was very harsh considering all the hard labor my Father went through to write this book! He deserves a A (insted of a B!) I'm sure that if u were to write a book it would not be perfect either! Anyways i belive this book is the cold hard truth about what these animals go through. I would definatly recomend this to people that are intersted in this area.