Life at the Zoo: Behind the Scenes with the Animal Doctors [Hardcover]

Phillip T. Robinson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2004

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.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Zoos are the most popular attractions in the U.S., with attendance that annually outstrips all major professional sports combined. As Robinson, former director of veterinary services at the San Diego Zoo, states, caring for animals in a zoological park is a blend of art, science, and pragmatism. Zoos are still evolving from their bad old menagerie days, and the zoo profession has undergone major transformations in the past 30 years. The author has framed his treatise on the housing and care of zoo animals with his experiences in the profession, and the result is an intimate look at how animal exhibits are designed, how the animals are cared for, and how illness is detected in animals that want to hide any weakness. Enlivened with animal anecdotes, profiles of eccentric zoo staff, and stories he says are "better kept to myself," the author entertains while educating the reader. A well-annotated bibliography completes an excellent introduction to the zoo world that belongs in all libraries. Nancy Bent
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"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

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Columbia University Press (August 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0231132484
• ISBN-13: 978-0231132480
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #206,804 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Bibliography's the highpoint, November 14, 2004

By 

jd103 (Yellowstone) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Life at the Zoo: Behind the Scenes with the Animal Doctors (Hardcover)

As a zoo docent, I've read better books on related topics such as Hancocks' A Different Nature, and would give this 3 stars personally but maybe a 4 for the general public. In fact, Hancocks' book though published two years earlier has more current info on a couple specifics but it's also more academic in style.

Early chapters seem to feature quite a few zoo deaths of animals and keepers to grab your attention. Middle chapters feature vet-specific topics such as drugs and nutrition but not in any great depth. Lots of anecdotes make up most of the book, some amusing, many of which could have been left out with no loss.

I got the sense the book was written in bits and pieces. There are repetitions such as the nearly identical descriptions of elephant teeth on pages 157 and 222. Quite a few typos involving grammar and missing words, especially annoying in a book from a university press.

I'd call him a middle of the roader on animal issues--he now finds hunting of deer and rabbits distasteful, but still hunts ducks; he criticizes the extreme folks in both animal rights and animal experimentation. He's stronger on environmental issues and thinks zoos should become involved in local environmental issues such as the area's wildlife habitat and pollution.

The bibliography features description/comments on 22 zoo-related books on a variety of topics. Very good leads for people interested in further reading.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Witty, Funny and Infomed Look at Zoos, November 21, 2004

By 

Marie S (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Life at the Zoo: Behind the Scenes with the Animal Doctors (Hardcover)

"Life at the Zoo" opened up the zoo world for me and provided a long and candid glimpse into how zoos function. Before reading this book I couldn't imagine how anyone could begin to provide medical care for such a diverse population of animals. I got the feeling that I was looking over the fence, peeking through the cracks and peering over the shoulder of veterinarians, animal keepers and visitors. The author writes authoritatively about what animals experience in zoos and the grave responsibility that zoo personnel have in nurturing and protecting them from both people and themselves. I appreciated the parts that discussed wildlife conservation and ethics, and others about the construction of zoo exhibits and some of the nuts, including employees, who frequent zoos. This book made me a better informed zoo visitor. I now have more of a sense of purpose and understanding when I go to my zoo. One of the high points was the author's dry sense of humor and unassuming way of sharing his experiences. Anyone who likes animals and who is curious about the role of zoos in wildlife conservation will find this valuable.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Of beasts and bureacracies, December 5, 2004

By 

Richard Nisbett "Richard Nisbett" (Houston) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Life at the Zoo: Behind the Scenes with the Animal Doctors (Hardcover)

This is a delightful book. From the dust jacket to the illustrations and index, it is beautifully produced. The author, standing on the left in the dust jacket photo, provides an important inside look at life in the zoo. Robinson's career as a field biologist and zoo veterinarian at the world famous Zoological Society of San Diego provide him great insights into the minds of beasts and bureaucracies. Much of this book is will be great interest to historians of animal collections and veterinary medicine for exotics. However, any dedicated zoo patron will find this account rich and the book will reach a very broad audience among students of animal behavior, aspiring veterinarians, animal lovers and zoo keepers. The anecdotes are lively and poignant, and will resonant with those who have worked behind the scenes in similar facilities. I especially liked the tale of the infamous Ken Allen, an orangutan Houdini!

This is a book that needed writing and Phillip Robinson was the one to do it. A leading authority on zoo medicine, the author also proves himself a skillful writer and storyteller. Life at the Zoo should be at the top of your shopping list for any animal lovers or aspiring ethologists.