Zoo History Books

[TeaLovingDave]

Not sure if this is the best place to ask but is anyone aware if any of the major books about or written by Heinrich Dathe or Bernard Blaszkiewitz are available in English?

I very much doubt that there are any books written by Dathe which are available in English, but I suppose it is possible that Blaszkiewitz might have translated at least *some* of his books given the fact that he was involved in the translation of those English-language guidebooks published during his tenure at Zoo Berlin. If so, I certainly haven't come across any such material myself.

As for books about Heinrich Dathe in English-language, probably the closest you can get would be the excellent The Zookeeper's War - a translation of Der Zoo der Anderen, the book by Jan Mohnhaupt which was recommended upthread by @lintworm , and which covers the history of both Berlin collections from the height of WWII to the end of the Cold War, along with biographical material relating to both Heinrich Dathe and Heinz-Georg Klös.

 

[Strathmorezoo]

I have only just found this thread (I'm slowly getting through them)and thought that two books in particular would grace any members library
Heini Hediger. Man and Animal in the Zoo
Heidi Hediger. Wild Animals in Captivity
Both books are about zoo biology and both excellent reads

 

[Tim May]

I have only just found this thread (I'm slowly getting through them)and thought that two books in particular would grace any members library
Heini Hediger. Man and Animal in the Zoo
Heidi Hediger. Wild Animals in Captivity
Both books are about zoo biology and both excellent reads

I addition to the two Heini Hediger books you mention, he also wrote "The Psychology and Behavior of Animals in Zoos and Circuses" which is also an interesting read.

 

[Strathmorezoo]

I addition to the two Heini Hediger books you mention, he also wrote "The Psychology and Behavior of Animals in Zoos and Circuses" which is also an interesting read.

I only mentioned these two because they are the only ones that I have read ,I think Hediger was a great influence on me and some of the academics at the University of Birmingham

 

[Jurek7]

I have only just found this thread (I'm slowly getting through them)and thought that two books in particular would grace any members library
Heini Hediger. Man and Animal in the Zoo
Heidi Hediger. Wild Animals in Captivity

Wild Animals in Captivity is available online:
Wild Animals in Captivity

Also online is Carl Hagenbeck 'Beasts and Men, being Carl Hagenbeck's experiences for half a century among wild animals'. It is not only the classic zoo book from the pioneer of naturalistic exhibits. It is also good read, lots of personal experiences with animals, adventure and humor.
Beasts and men, being Carl Hagenbeck's experiences for half a century among wild animals; : Hagenbeck, Carl, 1844-1913 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

 

[Nelmeltell]

Hello! Just wanted to ask if anyone has book recommendations for understanding emergency measures applied to zoos during wartime (including the killing by various means of several species, even in large numbers). I'm not looking for books that focus on the ethics of it, but ones that might involve in-depth interviews and views of stakeholders who might have made these decisions and those who may have carried out the plans. Fiction / Non-fiction doesn't matter.

Been looking for such accounts since reading The Wind Up Bird Chronicle, which focuses on a similar incident at a Japanese zoo; most pieces that deal with this aspect of the book treat it as a form of Juvenalian satire, connecting the incident with expendable humanity. But works about those who take part--willingly or otherwise--in such processes seem to be rare. Would love any recommendation. TIA.

 

[Randomname0183]

I just came across this thread and would like to ask if anyone has any good books on the history of zoos during the Cold War? I plan on writing a research project for my upcoming Extended Essay on how Zoos served as a political weapon during the Cold War. I would be interested in books that cover the history of key European zoos during this period, namely ones in East and West Germany (aside from the wonderful Zookeeper's War, which I have already begun reading) and others in the Eastern Bloc developed during this period, alongside any studbook information available for some of these facilities. I would love any recommendations and would greatly appreciate all of your input!

 

[KevinB]

I just came across this thread and would like to ask if anyone has any good books on the history of zoos during the Cold War? I plan on writing a research project for my upcoming Extended Essay on how Zoos served as a political weapon during the Cold War. I would be interested in books that cover the history of key European zoos during this period, namely ones in East and West Germany (aside from the wonderful Zookeeper's War, which I have already begun reading) and others in the Eastern Bloc developed during this period, alongside any studbook information available for some of these facilities. I would love any recommendations and would greatly appreciate all of your input!

The closest I can think of is The Zookeepers' War - An Incredible True Story from the Cold War
by J. W. Mohnhaupt.

 

[ZooNews2024]

I just came across this thread and would like to ask if anyone has any good books on the history of zoos during the Cold War? I plan on writing a research project for my upcoming Extended Essay on how Zoos served as a political weapon during the Cold War. I would be interested in books that cover the history of key European zoos during this period, namely ones in East and West Germany (aside from the wonderful Zookeeper's War, which I have already begun reading) and others in the Eastern Bloc developed during this period, alongside any studbook information available for some of these facilities. I would love any recommendations and would greatly appreciate all of your input!

John Tuson's new book has a huge amount of information (in English!) on the zoos of Germany;
both sides of the wall.