Book

16november2011
Publisher: Lexington Books, 2010
Metamorphoses of the Zoo

The book Metamorphoses of the Zoo: Animal Encounter After Noah is dedicated to the enormous developments that have taken place in zoos.
Historically, zoos were mainly an expression of power or status. A zoo was a collection of animals, preferably containing as many species as possible. The animals were kept in such a way as to make them most visible to the public: in small cages. Contemporary zoos are now showcases of environmental education, scientific research and nature conservation. There has also been great progress in the design of animal enclosures, including making them look more natural. Furthermore, it is very clear that zoos are immensely popular attractions, attracting hundreds of millions of visitors each year worldwide. The conclusion is that people feel a strong sense of biophilia: the need to have nature and animals around them. This sense is even stronger when a person’s own habitat becomes biologically more homogeneous; it is not surprising that most zoos are located in urban areas. Metamorphoses of the Zoo offers resources for the creative reconstruction of zoos, including a focus on contact between species and eco-psychological health.


Metamorphoses of the Zoo: Animal Encounter After Noah
Ralph Acampora
Publisher: Lexington Books, 2010
ISBN-10: 073913454X
ISBN-13: 978-0739134542