One of Taronga's veteran keepers has written a book about working at the zoo, due for release in a few weeks. Some blurb is available here: Keepers and the kept: confessions of a zookeeper. : Boylan, Terry. - Andrew Isles Terry first started working at Taronga in the 70's (or was it the late 60's?) so he has lots of stories to tell. Hix
Terry's book hit the shelves today (in Australia, anyway). I've spent the eveninig reading the first half of the book and I'm really impressed by his writing style. Albeit, in the very first paragraph he mentions Attenborough and Durrell as his idols so that might have something to do with it. Surpisingly, the Taronga Zoo Gift Shop is NOT selling it. Apparently zoo management were not happy with parts of the books and didn't convey this to Terry until after the book was at the printers. Not too sure why as there is nothing in the book that is scandalous or would cast the zoo in a particularly bad light (at least, not in the part I've read so far). Luckily, the local bookshop in Mosman has some copies so I picked one up today after I left the zoo. Although it's concerned mainly with Taronga, Terry also recounts experiences from Melbourne and London Zoos (including being chased by one of Londons elephants, a female named Anna, who had previously tusked some poor keeper). And while there is discussions of variouis different animals Terry has worked with or encountered, there is also tales of the various keepers he has worked with too. Thoroughly recommended to anyone who likes zoos and their inhabitants, human and otherwise. Hix
Hmmmm, that link is now leading to a blank page. The publishers page: New Holland Publishers Australia | Books Hix
I believe this is at least the second book written about the zoo by a staff member. I read one a few years ago written by a woman who worked in the office in some capacity (marketing?). I donated it to my zoo library, so I can't remember the name of the book or the author, but some amusing anecdotes (especially about the matriarch of the chimpanzee troupe who refused to go in on nights when she saw a lot of boats in the harbor because she knew there would be a fireworks show and didn't want to miss it!). I may have to order this book if it is on Amazon (or at least add it to the growing list of books in my Amazon wish list awaiting funding...).
I think that would be 'Postcards from the Zoo: Animal tales from a 25-year zoo safari', by Darill Clements. I thought it was a really good book too. I have added it to my wishlist too - fairly near the top as its not too expensive Hopefully I will be able to buy it soon.
Amazon doesn't have it yet. But if you follow the second link I posted you can buy it direct from the publisher.
