I'm tired, so maytbe I overlooked one in this section, but anyhow, I was curious what are some books about the history of individual zoological institutions, more so than overviews of the practice. As a history fan and a zoo lover, they tend to hit me in a sweet spot, and the single location always provides an interesting backdrop for the events.
Let The Lions Roar: The Evolution of Brookfield Zoo was a fascinating read and reread as a local Chicago resident and frequenter of the zoo, and has some great tidbits. My dad visited there years ago so it was nice to connect the stories back to family memories, like Olga the Walrus. I don't want to oversell the book, but I still like to flip through it frequently, even if it's increasingly off to hear about twenty-year-old exhibits as upcoming attractions
Brookfield Zoo and the Chicago Zoological Society (Images of America) is a recent purchase and a decent read mostly focused on pictures, many but far from all shared with the above book. There's some nice shots of the interior of the now closed Reptile House and the former Aquatic Bird House, for example, but these images are often in between scenes of guests enjoying the zoo or individual animals.
The Ark in Park: The Story of Lincoln Park Zoo I read ten plus years ago and remember fondly. Like the Brookfield book, the focus moves between humans and animals, but Lincoln Park's less romantic beginnings can make for a bit of a slow start from what I remember.
It Began with a Roar! The Beginning of the World-Famous San Diego Zoo is a strange book, given to me as a gift by a friend who had relatives in the area. From what I recall, it's actually three sub-books tied together, with the bulk being written by Harry M. Wegeforth, former zoo director himself, about various odd but entertaining stories about his time at the zoo, though many of these stories are from early in it's history. The final portion, which tries to bridge this to the present, is much shorter and feels abrupt as a result - nonetheless, a fun read.
I'm on the lookout for more books like these, for the record, if anyone has any worth noting.
Let The Lions Roar: The Evolution of Brookfield Zoo was a fascinating read and reread as a local Chicago resident and frequenter of the zoo, and has some great tidbits. My dad visited there years ago so it was nice to connect the stories back to family memories, like Olga the Walrus. I don't want to oversell the book, but I still like to flip through it frequently, even if it's increasingly off to hear about twenty-year-old exhibits as upcoming attractions
Brookfield Zoo and the Chicago Zoological Society (Images of America) is a recent purchase and a decent read mostly focused on pictures, many but far from all shared with the above book. There's some nice shots of the interior of the now closed Reptile House and the former Aquatic Bird House, for example, but these images are often in between scenes of guests enjoying the zoo or individual animals.
The Ark in Park: The Story of Lincoln Park Zoo I read ten plus years ago and remember fondly. Like the Brookfield book, the focus moves between humans and animals, but Lincoln Park's less romantic beginnings can make for a bit of a slow start from what I remember.
It Began with a Roar! The Beginning of the World-Famous San Diego Zoo is a strange book, given to me as a gift by a friend who had relatives in the area. From what I recall, it's actually three sub-books tied together, with the bulk being written by Harry M. Wegeforth, former zoo director himself, about various odd but entertaining stories about his time at the zoo, though many of these stories are from early in it's history. The final portion, which tries to bridge this to the present, is much shorter and feels abrupt as a result - nonetheless, a fun read.
I'm on the lookout for more books like these, for the record, if anyone has any worth noting.