Zoo: a History of Zoological Gardens in the West - Hardcover

Baratay, Eric; Hardouin-Fugier, Elisabeth

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1861891113 ISBN 13: 9781861891112

Verlag: Reaktion Books, 2002

Inhaltsangabe

Book by Baratay Eric HardouinFugier Elisabeth

Über diesen Titel

Críticas:

"A richly informative book. An absolute must for those interested in zoo history--or anyone fascinated by homo sapiens' changing relationship with our fellow creatures."--New Scientist "A fascinating and wide-ranging history of zoos from the menageries attached to aristocratic palaces and villas in the 1500s to those in modern cities. . . . Provides the intriguing and often harrowing background to one of the most agonising dilemmas of our time: with ever more species threatened with extinction in their natural habitat, should we seek to preserve them in special sanctuaries and if so where and how?"--The Times "A fascinating cultural and architectural history."--The Independent "Books of the Year " "Not just a compendium of pretty pictures--though you'll be stunned by the 400 images--this book traces the history of zoos throughout the world. Among similar books, it is unique in exploring the social ramifications of our relations with the peaceable kingdom."--Library Journal "Best Books of 2002 "

Reseña del editor:

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.

Über diese Auflage

• Verlag: Reaktion Books
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2002
• ISBN 10: 1861891113
• ISBN 13: 9781861891112
• Einband: Tapa dura
• Anzahl der Seiten: 400