Zoo: A History of Zoological Gardens in the West (Hardcover)

Wild animals have fascinated human observers since time immemorial, and the story of our interest in collecting, classifying and dominating Nature so that its inner workings could be understood looms large in the history of science. 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 wide-ranging book fills this gap by tracing the history of menageries and zoological gardens in the Western world. With the aid of numerous fascinating illustrations and anecdotes, the authors take us behind the scenes of a frequently misunderstood institution. 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 threat of extinction, the social function of zoos is less clear. Such institutions both offer the illusion of wild animals preserved in a natural state for a nostalgic public and find themselves justifying their existence as saviors of endangered species to their detractors.