Zoo: A History of Zoological Gardens in the West

by ElisabethHardouin-Fugier (Author), EricBaratay (Author)

• Used

  Hardcover
  2002

  $13.51

  Wild animals have fascinated human observers since time immemorial. The story of our interest in collecting, classifying and dominating nature so that its inner workings could be understood also looms large in the history of science, and thus it is surprising that the history of menageries, zoological gardens and the zoo as we know it today has been so poorly documented. This gap is addressed by Zoo , a comprehensive history of the zoo in the Western world. Beginning in the Renaissance, wealthy aristocrats showcased large numbers of exotic beasts in their menageries. Safely caged, animals inspired the interest of naturalists and fed the curiosity of the masses. In the 19th century, increased urbanization and colonization aided the expansion of zoos in which animals, imported in their thousands, were tamed to serve as domesticated livestock. Nowadays, with wildlife and many natural habitats under the threat of extinction, the social function of zoos is less clear. Such institutions both present the illusion of wild animals in a natural state to a nostalgic public and find themselves justifying their existence as saviours of endagered species to their detractors. With the aid of numerous illustrations and anecdotes, the text takes readers behind the scenes of this frequently misunderstood institution.