The MODERN ARK: The Story of Zoos: Past, Present, and Future

Examines the evolution of zoos from concrete-paved mazes to naturally-landscaped education centers focused on the preservation of endangered species and explores the issues facing zoos today

Croke, a wildlife journalist for the Boston Globe, gets to the heart of our love-hate affair with zoos in this elegant, thoughtful study. Creatures of the wild strike primitive, visceral, and spiritual chords in many of us, even when viewed in a zoo setting: 120 million people in the US visited zoos last year. The way Croke sees it, as society increasingly distances itself from the natural world, zoos are one path back: ``What we take away from zoos in our heads is questionable . . . what we take away in our hearts is irrefutable.'' She is a fan of zoos, good zoos, and feels that they can ``carve out a niche that fits intelligently into the spectrum of people's experience.'' To get to the nub of the matter--what makes a good zoo?--she toured just about every decent-sized zoo in the US. Where had they gone right, where wrong? Was there space enough for the animals, were there opportunities for them to enrich themselves, were they allowed to let their hair down, to be natural? These are not simple questions, and Croke must dip into physiology and biochemistry and stereotypic-behavior theory (dealing with animals' behavior in confinement) to gain even a toehold on the answers. But this is also a general zoo history, with sections on ancient menageries (Queen Hatshepsut gathered hers in the Land of Punt); plenty of grisly stories of attacks and escapes; an overview of problems relating to collection, inbreeding, and triage; and the question of reintroducing animals to the wild. Zoos of the future may well be interactive marvels, suggests Croke, but they had better get involved in saving wild places, for that is ultimately where these creatures should be: ``Wild animals don't belong in cages,'' says the author, voicing the zoo-lover's ethical lament. Engagingly written, full of astute cultural critiques as viewed through the prism of zookeeping practices, and deeply respectful of animals. (Author tour) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Unlike other recently published books (e.g., Michael Nichols's Keepers of the Kingdom, LJ 1/97) that have hailed the "conservation" efforts of zoos and their attempts to provide "naturalistic" habitat exhibits and cooperative "Species Survival Plans," Croke, who writes a syndicated "Animal Beat" newspaper column, takes a more critical and analytical look at these same efforts. Her work is sobering yet hopeful. Using examples from many of the nation's best, Croke illustrates how zoos are more a reflection of society than the animals on display. They are our link to the natural world. Croke traces the physical development of zoos and menageries from Greek and Roman times to the present?supporting her premise that how we keep animals and how we view them is a reflection of our societal value systems. This work is very entertaining, and Croke's educational points are well stated and understandable. A valuable addition to most natural history collections.?Edell Marie Schaefer, Brookfield P.L., Wis.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Boston Globe journalist Croke's syndicated "Animal Beat" column appears in newspapers across the country. Here, she examines the appeal, functions, and culture of zoos in a nuanced study of an institution that, in the U.S. alone, draws more than 120 million visitors a year. Croke's Ark contains a good deal of science (how different species cope with zoo life's boredom and restrictions) as well as history (how zoos defined their mission over the years) and psychology, probing the "magnetism" that attracts people to such collections of animals. With a fond but critical eye, Croke notes that many animals still live in cramped spaces and insists that conservation must receive a greater share of zoo funding. "The challenge of the new zoo," she urges, is, among other things, to "allow living, breathing animals to inspire wonder and awe at the natural world" and "to illuminate the tangled and fragile web of life that sustains it." Mary Carroll