First published 1997
Croke traces how zoos have reinvented themselves over decades. She documents the shift from institutions with concrete floors and metal bars to spaces with natural landscapes and educational missions. The author examines how modern zoos now prioritize saving endangered species rather than simply displaying animals for entertainment. Croke explores the complex challenges these institutions face as they balance public access with conservation goals. She reveals how zoos struggle with limited resources, breeding programs, and public perception while working to protect vanishing wildlife. The book shows how these transformed spaces serve as arks for species that might otherwise disappear forever.
Genres: animals, non-fiction, 21st-century, biology, conservation
Vibes: educational, informative, thought-provoking
Tropes: informative-non-fiction
Hardcover · Scribner