Books about New Zealand Zoos

[zooboy28]

There doesn't appear to be a thread on this topic, and I feel that this thread is most useful here (cf. the media forum).

I want this thread to have a complete list of the books published on NZ zoos, aquariums, wildlife parks, etc, although I am omitting guide books for now. If you know of any more books, please give a full reference if possible, and a brief description, and add them to this thread.

I only have four such books, but want to expand this collection if possible.

Books by Zoo:

Auckland Zoo

-A Tiger by the Tail: A History of Auckland Zoo 1922-1992. (1992) Derek Wood, Auckland City Council. A complete history of New Zealand's main zoo's first 70 years, detailing the stories of the people, animals and exhibits of the Auckland Zoo.

-The Zoo: Meet the Locals. (2000) Colin Hogg, Random House. A companion book to the first series of the TV show The Zoo, which has small chapters on the various stories featured, notably the death of Larry the Camel.

-A Seal on the Motorway. (1982) Graham Meadows, Stoughton. Technically a novel, this book was written by a former vet and curator of Auckland Zoo, and follows the story of a young British vet/curator who starts work at a fictional zoo in New Zealand. It certainly has elements of Meadows' time at AZ, and focuses on his relations with staff and animals. Notable events include the relocation of wolves, among others, most of which did actually happen at Auckland.

Willowbank Wildlife Reserve

-Some of My Best Friends are Animals. (1982) Michael Willis, Whitcoulls. An autobiagraphical work by the founder of Willowbank, which details its origins, the origins and stories of some of the animals, and the park's early conservation work.

 

[Chlidonias]

there aren't many books on NZ zoos. The only other one I can think of off-hand is:

- The Elephant Man. (2010), Tony Ratcliffe, Op. Cit. Ltd. An account of Tony Ratcliffe's circus life, not about zoos as such but it does contain many references to the zoos and marinelands that used to be/still are around the country.

 

[Steve Robinson]

there aren't many books on NZ zoos. The only other one I can think of off-hand is:

- The Elephant Man. (2010), Tony Ratcliffe, Op. Cit. Ltd. An account of Tony Ratcliffe's circus life, not about zoos as such but it does contain many references to the zoos and marinelands that used to be/still are around the country.

Available from the Darling Downs Zoo bookshop!!!

 

[kiwipo]

Perhaps we could add here, of maybe start another thread, on books on Aus Zoos.
Aus has and has had some amazing animal parks and zoos, so I assume someone has written books on some of them.

 

[zooboy28]

Perhaps we could add here, of maybe start another thread, on books on Aus Zoos.
Aus has and has had some amazing animal parks and zoos, so I assume someone has written books on some of them.

Yea, I think thats a good idea, although probably in the Australia forum. I only know a couple of books on Australian Zoos, but I imagine there are many more than from NZ.

 

[Chlidonias]

I don't think these are exactly what you've got in mind for this thread, but seeing things are a bit lean otherwise, Jon Gadsby (from tv's McPhail and Gadsby) wrote two kids' books (aimed at three to seven year olds) about the animals at Auckland Zoo, published by Random House in 2005, namely "The Zoo: Babies" and "The Zoo: Feeding". [Just as an aside, his first book back in 1984 was called "The Book Of Beasts"; I had it and it was awesome!]

Another kids' book, with awful rhyming, was "Orana Wildlife Park" by Jenny Mundy (The Caxton Press, 2009), about Orana Park.

 

[zooboy28]

I don't think these are exactly what you've got in mind for this thread, but seeing things are a bit lean otherwise, Jon Gadsby (from tv's McPhail and Gadsby) wrote two kids' books (aimed at three to seven year olds) about the animals at Auckland Zoo, published by Random House in 2005, namely "The Zoo: Babies" and "The Zoo: Feeding". [Just as an aside, his first book back in 1984 was called "The Book Of Beasts"; I had it and it was awesome!]

Another kids' book, with awful rhyming, was "Orana Wildlife Park" by Jenny Mundy (The Caxton Press, 2009), about Orana Park.

Well, if we are including such works, then it is imperitive that we add this personal favourite:

Auckland Zoo:

-The Little Yellow Digger goes to the Zoo. (1999) Betty Gilderdale, Scolastic. A fictitous tale, where the little yellow digger comes to the rescue when hippo pool at the zoo needs to be made bigger.

 

[Chlidonias]

Staglands:

a new book just published, "Staglands: the first forty years" by John Simister, available from their website for just $12.95
Tourist attractions - Staglands Wildlife Reserve

 

[zooboy28]

Staglands:

a new book just published, "Staglands: the first forty years" by John Simister, available from their website for just $12.95
Tourist attractions - Staglands Wildlife Reserve

I got this book(let), but haven't actually gotten around to reading it yet, still trying to get through the Cotswold Wildlife Park book (its a good read, I just haven't had much time to read it), and The Story of London Zoo (which has been a mission to read).

Anyway, the Staglands book is a small paperback, 60 pages, but with lots of photos and the small passages I have read make me think it will be a great read.

 

[zooboy28]

Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium

KELLY – The Adventurous Life of Kelly Tarlton. (1988) E V Sale, Heinemann Reed. A biography of the man who created Auckland's aquarium, which explores his career, culminating in the opening of Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World in 1985, just a few weeks before his death.

Paperback copies of this book were for sale at the aquarium for $35 on my recent visit, and there is a hardcover first edition on trademe now.

 

[Chlidonias]

Starring role for Hamilton Zoo's cheeky kea - Yahoo! Sport New Zealand

One of Hamilton Zoo’s feathered friends is now the star of his very own book, proudly written by Zoo Keeper Kylie Martin.

The children’s book "Cheeky Charlie" is aimed at five to seven year olds and tells the story of Charlie the Kea’s hatching, his special bond with zoo keeper Peter Smits and his silly kea antics. All proceeds from the book are going to the Kea Conservation Trust.

28 year old Charlie has been a resident of Hamilton Zoo (formally known as Hilldale Game Farm) since he hatched in 1986.

Zoo Keeper and now author, Kylie Martin has worked at Hamilton Zoo for seven years and is very excited about the story and the potential to raise money for such a worthwhile cause.

"Charlie was the first ever kea egg to hatch at our zoo so he’s a special member of the team. His cheeky antics provide our keepers and visitors with hours of entertainment so is a perfect character for a children’s story book.

The Kea Conservation Trust do such amazing work trying to protect this special species and the funds raised will allow research to be conducted on issues that kea are currently facing."

The uniquely Hamilton book is $15 and available for sale through the zoo souvenir shop. The book will also be available at the Tamahere markets this Saturday.

"I always wanted to write a children’s book because I love reading them myself. Pulling together this story has been incredibly exciting but it definitely wasn’t a solo effort - there are so many people who have contributed to the project."

The Kea Conservation Trust aims to assist in the conservation of wild kea in their natural habitat and increase the husbandry standards and advocacy potential of those kea held in captive facilities within New Zealand.

Charlie loves visitors so make sure you come and say hello at Hamilton Zoo. He can be found in the kea enclosure which is just before New Zealand’s largest walk through aviary.