Question for zookeepers

X

Xavier2132

New Member
Hello my name is X. I've recently been thinking about how cool it would be to work at a zoo with animals and would like to learn more on the subject. I was wondering if anyone could recommend some important books that you may have learned at school or throughout your career that are a must read for zookeeping. I've already google searched for some books and found a few that I'm definitely going to check out like "zookeeping: an introduction to the science and technology" "don't shoot the dog" and a few others. If anyone has any other recommendations that you wouldn't easily find on google I'de appreciate a response. Thanks.
 
Hello! Some books that I've found very informative and interesting when I was starting off my career are, in no particular order, "Sailing with Noah" by Jeff Bonner, "You Belong In a Zoo!" by Peter Brazaitis (especially if you want to be a reptile keeper), "Bevy of Beasts" by Gerald Durrell (sometimes sold as "Beasts in My Belfry," "Professor in the Zoo" by Terry Maple, and "Last Animals at the Zoo" by Colin Tudge.

For some insights into animal-keeping, you can read my ongoing thread, "A Zoo Man's Notebook, 2025" - or feel free to ask any questions you might have, either here or via messenger

A Zoo Man's Notebook, 2025
 
Aardwolf said:
Hello! Some books that I've found very informative and interesting when I was starting off my career are, in no particular order, "Sailing with Noah" by Jeff Bonner, "You Belong In a Zoo!" by Peter Brazaitis (especially if you want to be a reptile keeper), "Bevy of Beasts" by Gerald Durrell (sometimes sold as "Beasts in My Belfry," "Professor in the Zoo" by Terry Maple, and "Last Animals at the Zoo" by Colin Tudge.

For some insights into animal-keeping, you can read my ongoing thread, "A Zoo Man's Notebook, 2025" - or feel free to ask any questions you might have, either here or via messenger

A Zoo Man's Notebook, 2025
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Will definitely check these out. Thanks!
 
Xavier2132 said:
Hello my name is X. I've recently been thinking about how cool it would be to work at a zoo with animals and would like to learn more on the subject. I was wondering if anyone could recommend some important books that you may have learned at school or throughout your career that are a must read for zookeeping. I've already google searched for some books and found a few that I'm definitely going to check out like "zookeeping: an introduction to the science and technology" "don't shoot the dog" and a few others. If anyone has any other recommendations that you wouldn't easily find on google I'de appreciate a response. Thanks.
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Looking at my library of books, for ideas for you, I realised that because I've so many, I would narrow it down to the books that inspired me when I first started my career with exotics. Like Aardwolf, Gerald Durrell books, particularly, The Stationary Ark, Menagerie Manor and The New Noah. Also two wonderful books, Man and Animal in the Zoo and Wild Animals in Captivity, both by Heini Hediger.
 
As a zookeeper from mainland China, I am also quite curious about which professional English books my foreign colleagues usually read, since there are not many Chinese professional books available for reference. Regarding English books, I would especially recommend works by Heini Hediger and Terry Maple. In addition, if you are interested in zoo architecture, Natascha Meuser books are also highly worth recommending.
 
WuZiMing said:
As a zookeeper from mainland China, I am also quite curious about which professional English books my foreign colleagues usually read, since there are not many Chinese professional books available for reference. Regarding English books, I would especially recommend works by Heini Hediger and Terry Maple. In addition, if you are interested in zoo architecture, Natascha Meuser books are also highly worth recommending.
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if you don’t want to read books that are too obscure or difficult to understand, Animal Training, Enrichment and Problem Solving: Enhancing Animal Welfare through Behavioral Management is also worth recommending, as it is written in a very clear and accessible way.
 
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