Book about Lowry Park Zoo

Arizona Docent

Arizona Docent

Well-Known Member
15+ year member
Someone just made me aware of this book that follows Lowry Park Zoo during their controversy with the former director and his planned (for profit) wildlife park. (This saga is well documented on another thread on ZooChat). Just wondering if anyone has read it yet? Not sure if I want to order it (although I probably will).

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Story-Life-Garden-Captives/dp/1401323464/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1280701307&sr=1-1]Amazon.com: Zoo Story: Life in the Garden of Captives (9781401323462): Thomas French: Books[/ame]
 
Followup: I just read all eight of the reviews currently on Amazon, and all eight give it a top rating of five stars (which is almost unheard of). This leads me to one of two possible conclusions: either it is one of the best books ever written, or all of the reviewers are friends of the author. Would really be interested in an opinion from a ZooChatter.
 
Well, that review made up my mind - I am definitely going to order this book. (And at only $16.49 US on Amazon, it won't break the bank). Only one minor discrepancy in review. He says all 11 elephants from Swaziland went to Lowry Park. As most of you know, only 4 went to Lowry Park and the other 7 went to SDWAP.
 
I've posted Comments online to reviews of this book. It sounds very much to me like it's an anti-zoo book. I have zero intentions of buying this book. From what I can tell from the reviews, the author makes the ethical lapses of Lowry Park's Director (Lex Salisbury) sound like they are "typical" in the zoo world. There's a lot of zoo-bashing through pointing out the problems of Salisbury's ethical problems. The reviewers I've read all sound anti-zoo to me.
 
ANyhuis said:
I have zero intentions of buying this book.
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Another reason to buy the book...:p

ANyhuis said:
The reviewers I've read all sound anti-zoo to me.
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None of the Amazon reviews sounds anti-zoo to me. Or does "this amazing zoo" and "God bless these wonderful people and the animals in their care. They are truly a breed apart." sound anti-zoo to anyone?
 
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OK, Sun has me rethinking my views of this book. Unfortunately, it seems that many media folks have simply made this book into what they want it to be. If the reporter is anti-zoo, he/she assumes this book is also anti-zoo. Same with the obviously anti-zoo extremists. Because this book exposes a few flaws inside the Lowry Park Zoo, some activists grab onto it as if it supports their radical anti-zoo viewpoint. Here's an example of that:
Advocates Seeking Excellence at Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo

But having read more about this book, including an interview with the author (French) himself, I've come to the conclusion that indeed he has written a fair and balanced story of life inside the zoo. While I'm not sure if French is totally comfortable with the idea of animals in captivity, he seems to understand that it is necessary for the preservation of endangered species. French is clearly pro-animal and pro-keeper, and I think that overall, he likes the Lowry Park Zoo (as do I).
 
Sometimes, @ANyhuis, it's wise not to judge a book by its cover (or in this case, reviews). Maybe you should keep this in mind the next time we collide...
 
Sun Wukong said:
Sometimes, @ANyhuis, it's wise not to judge a book by its cover (or in this case, reviews). Maybe you should keep this in mind the next time we collide...
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Unlike you, Sun, I'm humble enough to admit when I'm wrong. I was wrong about this book, and I'm happy to admit it. But my first reaction will always be to defend what I love -- zoos!

We only "collide" when you cause the collisions -- with your nasty, negative, attacking manner.
 
I liked the book, although it does make me sad to face the limitations of zoos. I think he does a good job of showing how zoos operate, especially the differences between the keeper and management perspectives. French raises real issues about keeping animals captive and what we accomplish by that. It's not a pro-zoo puff piece like most "insider" accounts I've read, but neither is it anti-zoo exaggeration and hysteria. He gets a little too coy about "alpha" humans, but overall, I give it a thumbs up for an intelligent, in-depth look at a modern zoo and a director who lost his way.
 
I agree with Ann's comments on the book.

I think he successfully articulates the dilemmas of keeping large and complex animals in captivity and is honest enough to say that he doesn't have all the answers.

There are a couple of errors, for example it says 'serama' when I'm fairly certain it should be 'seriema' and there is no such thing as the Sri Lankan language. Small mistakes but easily avoided.

It is interesting that the notes at the rear of the book include back up and citations for practically every sentence he wrote, almost to the extent of him saying things like 'elephants have four legs and a long trunk' (note: based on first hand experience and reports from zoo keepers). I guess this meticulousness is important when dealing with a risky subject like this and he must have had lots of legal advice to avoid litigation.

As for Allen's initial reaction about not reading a book which has an anti-zoo agenda, I think it is important that we challenge our own assumptions and convictions now and then. Hey, I once even bought a book with a foreword written by Newt Gingrich and it turned out to be quite a good read! ;-)
 
I was hesitant to read this book, too. I was told, or maybe i read somewhere that French made it seem like what happened at Lowry was typical everywhere, and that it w primarily an anti-captivity story. But after it being suggested by numerous volunteers and eventually our own Board of Directors President, i broke down and bought it for my Ipad (my first ebook purchase). I read it pretty continually until the second half, I couldn't put it down!
I agree with Ann, that it was perfectly balanced approach to zoos. French could have pulverized Lowry for what he wrote about, but he gives both angles empathy and support. An incredible read.
I've been having very good luck with books lately. Im on a roll!
 
I read it on the flight out here to Europe. (I am currently in Sevilla in a hotel that is far nicer than what I expected, with a free laptop in every room which is how I can check my email mid trip). Book is neither pro zoo nor anti zoo. It is basically an impartial report (started as a series for the local newspaper) that focuses on the importation of elephants from Swaziland (in conjuction with SDWAP). Ends with the controversy around the forced resignation of the CEO regarding his own for profit wildlife park. I found it interesting because I have been to Lowry Park a couple times and have followed the elephant importation via San Diego magazines.

If you are interested in these two topics you will like it. If not, you may or may not enjoy it, although likely most zoo fanatics on this site would enjoy it at least for the inside look at a zoo.
 
I'm reading it now with only a couple chapters left. But after looking at the threads about this zoo, I know how it's going to turn out. I found the book intriguing, but it really hooks you towards the end. It's like you know these animals and if something happens to them, it really gets too you. At least for me. I probably cried twice when I found out about Herman and Enshalla (along with their keepers reactions). With so much drama going on, it's almost like it couldn't be real, but then made me think, what don't I know that's actually going on behind the scenes at a zoo? I think it's beautifully written and although I think the writer has qualms of animals in captivity, I think he pretty much stays in the middle and makes the reader decide for themselves what they think of the politics of a zoo. And to me what it comes down to, it's not black and white. There's a lot of gray area when it comes to a zoo. It's become one of my favorite books and I'm really interested in visiting this small zoo, even if it's got some theme park aspects I could care less about.
 
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