Babylon's Ark: The Incredible Wartime Rescue of the Baghdad Zoo - Hardcover

Anthony, Lawrence; Spence, Graham

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0312358326 ISBN 13: 9780312358327

Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books, 2007

Synopsis

When the Iraq war began, conservationist Lawrence Anthony could think of only one thing: the fate of the Baghdad Zoo, located in the city center and caught in the war's crossfire. Once Anthony entered Baghdad he discovered that full-scale combat and uncontrolled looting had killed nearly all the animals of the zoo. But not all of them. U.S. soldiers had taken the time to help care for the remaining animals, and the zoo's staff had returned to work in spite of the constant firefights. Together the Americans and Iraqis had managed to keep alive the animals that had survived the invasion.Babylon's Ark chronicles the zoo's transformation from bombed-out rubble to peaceful park. Along the way, Anthony recounts hair-raising efforts to save a pride of the dictator's lions, close a deplorable black-market zoo, and rescue Saddam's Arabian horses. His unique ground-level experience makes Babylon's Ark an uplifting story of both sides working together for the sake of innocent animals caught in the war's crossfire.

About this title

From the Inside Flap:

Into the middle of a raging war, and against enormous odds, wades a brave conservationist to save the stranded, magnificent animals of the Baghdad Zoo

“Terrific tale about how Iraqis, a South African conservationist and American soldiers saved the animals of the Baghdad Zoo. A wartime story with a joyful ending.”--Kirkus Reviews (Starred review)

“The author takes no position on the invasion. His goal is for his mission, so dramatically recounted with journalist Spence’s help, to set an example of conservation and respect for animal life.”--Publishers Weekly

About the Author:

LAWRENCE ANTHONY is an acclaimed conservationist and founder of the Earth Organization. He received the UN's Earth Day award (making him the first South African to receive the award) for his work in Baghdad. He lives in Zululand, South Africa. GRAHAM SPENCE is a journalist and editor. Originally from South Africa, he now lives in England.

About this edition

• Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0312358326
• ISBN 13: 9780312358327
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 256