Book Description

From King Solomon's collections of "apes and peacocks" to the menageries of English and Hapsburg monarchs, the display of exotic animals has delighted and amazed observers for centuries. Originally prized as symbols of elite wealth and power, such collections have been dramatically transformed since 1800--particularly in terms of audience and purpose.

In New Worlds, New Animals, R. J. Hoage and William A. Deiss assemble essays that concentrate on the development of the modern zoo in the nineteenth century. Taking an in-depth look at the social climate of the century, they chart the transition from elaborate menageries for exclusive patrons to public facilities that expressed the power and might of nations to institutions dedicated to public education, wildlife conservation, and biological research. These changes reflect the larger transformation of the West--from the colonial era's desire to "tame" newly discovered continents to today's more egalitarian, conservation-minded world.

New Worlds, New Animals begins with an overview of the history of menageries in antiquity and their development in Europe and the United States. Zoos in many countries had quite different origins--including a fish market that became an animal dealership before becoming a zoo and an Australian way station originally designed to acclimate Old World domestic stock to a new continent.

The authors also examine the period in the United States between 1830 and 1880, when popular traveling animal shows and circuses gave way to the first public zoos in New York and Philadelphia. They take an in-depth look at the establishment of the National Zoological Park in Washington, D.C.--the first zoo created to preserve endangered species. Illustrated with nearly 100 photographs, New Worlds, New Animals gives readers a new respect for and understanding of the role of zoos in social and cultural history.

Book Description
The official account of the hand-rearing of two polar bear cubs who captivated the nation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

pure perfection!
I had it in just 3 days - from the US to Denmark! Peak performance! And all in time for a very small person'
s B-day!

Heartwarming and Wonderful!
Although I did not see the television documentary on these two littledarlings, I nevertheless loved the book. Although they are now big bears,the story of little Klondike and Snow's early years is interesting,educational and touching. Abandoned by their mother as cubs, the two bearswere raised by humans. This book clearly illustrates the love and devotionof the Denver Zoo towards the cubs' care and development. Klondike and Snoware now thriving at Sea World's Wild Arctic exhibit, were they have plentyof living space and attention!

This book is wonderful for any animallover and people interested in animal/human interaction.

A Teacher's Review of"Klondike and Snow"
Anyone who was fascinated by the PBS program on these two polar bears will enjoy this book.It tells the story of their early years before being transfered to the Florida zoo.The photos are amazing!I've used thisbook as a resource with K-6th graders, and all ages have loved it.Thetext under the photos is very small and in blue, making it difficult toread, but the main text is fine, and otherwise the book is wonderful.Ihighly recommend it to anyone with an interest in these two very specialbears.

A Teacher's Review of"Klondike and Snow"
Anyone who was fascinated by the PBS program on these two polar bears will enjoy this book.It tells the story of their early years before being transfered to the Florida zoo.The photos are amazing!I've used thisbook as a resource with K-6th graders, and all ages have loved it.Thetext under the photos is very small and in blue, making it difficult toread, but the main text is fine, and otherwise the book is wonderful.Ihighly recommend it to anyone with an interest in these two very specialbears.

A Teacher's Review of"Klondike and Snow"
Anyone who was fascinated by the PBS program on these two polar bears will enjoy this book.It tells the story of their early years before being transfered to the Florida zoo.The photos are amazing!I've used thisbook as a resource with K-6th graders, and all ages have loved it.Thetext under the photos is very small and in blue, making it difficult toread, but the main text is fine, and otherwise the book is wonderful.Ihighly recommend it to anyone with an interest in these two very specialbears. ... Read more

Book Description
iPolitical Animalsi offers a unique study and perspective on the relationship between politics and the art found in American zoos and aquariums. Jesse Donahue and Erik Trump examine the ways that zoos and aquariums have successfully served as sculptural gardens for the masses and have incorporated art and architecture that convey political messages about both the patrons and the animals. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Some Of Ansel Adams' Most Exquisite Images!
Some of Amsel Adams' most stunning photographs are of Yosemite National Park, a place very close to the artist's heart. This extraordinary tear-out postcard book includes over 60 exquisite photographs of glacial lakes and craggy peaks, cascading waterfalls, lone trees and woodland streams.

Keep the book intact as a glorious mini-album, or send the cards as aesthetic greetings to friends. This also makes a wonderful stocking stuffer - the holidays are coming up!
JANA ... Read more

Book Description
Contents Include: The Zoo in a Frost - The Ghosts of the Tropical Forest - The Butterfly Farm at the Zoo - Patterns on Living Animals - The Giraffe's Obituary - The Electric Eel - Deep-sea Lamps - The Lion House at the Zoo - Diving Birds at the Zoo - Tame Divers - The Quest for the Wild Horse - Aesthetics at the Zoo: The Animal Sense of Beauty , Scents and Sounds - Orpheus at the Zoo: The First Visit, The Second Visit, The Choice of Instruments - Talking Birds - Elephant life in England - Wanted, A New Meat - An Experiment in Animal Preservation - "Jamrach's" - Expression in the Animal Eye - London Bears - Young Animals at the Zoo - Animal Colouring - Wild-Cats at the Zoo - The Speech of Monkeys - Rare and Beautiful Monkeys - The Larger Monkeys - Lizards and Crocodiles at the Zoo - From the Animals' Point of View - Possible Pets - The paris zoological Gardens in the Two Sieges - Other Beasts of Burden - The Soldier's Camel - The Canadian Beaver - The Temper of Animals - Criminal Animals - A Year at the Zoo ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Look, but don't read
Poorly laid out souvenir book.Nigel Dennis's pictures are fine, but the captions are badly positioned.The maps are few and devoid of detail.The biggest problem is the text, which is largely a geology treatise on the park...fine for the Grand Canyon, or Purnululu, but not Kruger, where the animals are the highlight.Very little on animal/animal interaction, the phenomenal bird life, fascinating riverine environments, etc.Save your money...there's more and better organized information in the pamphlet you get when you pay your entry fee to the park.

An exciting summary of this complex African ecosystem.
The pictures, the dialog, and the maps leave one with a haunting awarenessof the complexity of natural systems.Animals, plants, and geology weavetogether into a balance that is always changeing. ... Read more

Amazon.com
A good book for getting an overview of North American national parks before preparing a cross country trip. Lots of pretty pictures, but then we wouldn't expect less from National Geographic, would we? ... Read more

Book Description
The Encyclopedia of the World's Zoos is the first major reference work to provide description, history, analysis, and information on every aspect of the zoo world.

Featuring some 500 illustrated entries, this acclaimed resource is international in scope. More than 145 zoos are profiled, as are the zoo-related histories of 90 animals traditionally exhibited in zoos and those most affected by zoo conservation and breeding efforts. Other entries cover influential individuals in the zoo world; institutional topics such as zoo design, structure, science, and methodology; and important issues affecting zoos, such as ethics, education, and conservation.

An international team of more than 250 advisers and contributors has been involved in the preparation of this landmark work. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Light-hearted but educational - classic Durrell
In this book, the legendary Gerald Durrell (author of The Amateur Naturalist) uses the occassion of the 'birthday' of his zoo and conservation trust to reflect on a long career of adventures andmisadventures with animals (human and otherwise) in the service of savingthe planet.There are many laugh-out-loud funny moments, many triumphs,and a few depressing failures looked at with head-on honesty.Arecommended read for all Durrell fans and animal lovers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Zoo U News
This is a good book.It lays out the groundwork for the survival of several species in a way that might not immediately have occurred to you.It explains in plain and readable English what zoological breeding programs are like, how they are administered and coordinated and how they really are the only hope of preserving some animals now tentatively upon this earth.The title comes because not all threatened species can be saved.This book may change the way you look at zoos and breeding programs. ... Read more