8th June International Day of Action for Elephants in Zoos

International Day of Action for Elephants in Zoos  is  a worldwide event aimed at raising awareness about the condition of elephants in zoos. It was instigated by the IDA.

In Defense Of Animals (IDA) believes that elephants die prematurely in zoos and that “urban zoos simply do not have adequate space for these majestic, intelligent animals.”

In confinement, elephants have been deprived of everything that gives their lives significance. As a result of the inhumane conditions in which they are kept, many elephants become emotionally unstable, unhealthy, and aggressive.

Whatever you feel about elephants in zoos, you have to admit they are incredible animals and deserve the best care and environment.

Four books that I know about elephants in zoos, that are based on real events, do give readers quite an insight into the treatment of elephants:

Faithful Elephants: A True Story of Animals, People and War by Yukio Tsuchiy and Ted Lewin

A zookeeper recounts the story of John, Tonky, and Wanly, three performing elephants at the Ueno Zoo in Tokyo, whose turn it is to die, and of their keepers, who weep and pray that World War II will end so their beloved elephants might be saved.

Queenie: One Elephant's Story  by Corinne Fenton and Peter Gouldthorpe

There was a time when for tuppence you could ride on the back of an elephant at a zoo. Queenie was one such elephant. Until her death in 1945, she patiently carried up to 500 people a day at Melbourne Zoo.

How to Move a Zoo  by Kate Simpson and Owen Swan

The true story of how at the beginning of the 20th century Jessie the elephant walked from Moore Park Zoo to her spacious new home in the Taronga Zoological Park in Sydney.

The Secret Elephant: Inspired by a True Story of Friendship by Ellan Rankin

This picture book is inspired by a true story at the Belfast Zoo during World War II.  As bombs shake the ground and flashes of orange light burn across the sky, the solitary elephant grows more and more afraid and confused. And when it becomes impossible to stay in the enclosure, the keeper makes the daring choice to take the elephant home.

Many of the advocates of IDA want elephants to live in sanctuaries other than zoos, and these two books give this view:

The Elephants Come Home  by Kim Tomsic and Hadley Hooper

One day in 1999, Lawrence Anthony and Françoise Malby hear that a herd of wild African elephants needs a new home. They welcome the elephants to their wildlife sanctuary—Thula Thula—with open arms. But the elephants are much less sure they want to stay. How will Lawrence prove to them that they are safe and loved?

Elephants of Thailand: The Smiling Elephant by Aston Heath and Kata Upama

A touching true story about Chang, a baby elephant, and his adventures as he is rescued from captivity. This book about elephants in Thailand takes the child through an elephant’s life, starting from the jungle, life in the tourist industry and then being rescued and taken to an elephant refuge park.

Another interesting book to look at would be: 

A Good Heart  by Lucy Melo and Sandra Severgnini

While this is not about elephants in a zoo, it is written by a zookeeper who has spent her working life with elephants at Taronga Zoo where she cared for two Asian elephants Jai Dee and Tukta.

8th April Zoo Lovers Day

The children I teach are very lucky. School, and their homes are very close to Sydney's Taronga Zoo. This means many of them have a zoo pass that allows them to go often, even after school for a short visit. They watch Taronga TV too and discuss news. Yes, they are spoiled. For them celebrating this day is easy. many of them have also been to Dubbo Zoo and Sydney West's  Sydney Zoo.

In the past we have had displays of books about zoos and they have been slow to move, but this week we tried again and was pleased to see that many of the books, even old ones were borrowed.

We have a good collection of nonfiction, featuring zoo keepers, the animals at the zoo and what zoos do, but of course, the most popular titles and those that go out first are those that feature 'poo at the zoo'!

Then there's those where the animals escape or get to do things while the public aren't watching.

There's fun at the zoo...

Then for those who want something more serious with plenty to talk about

If you want a chapter book, look for these series

4th October International Zookeeper Day

It is Zookeeper Day. They ask us to please take the opportunity on October 4th to stop and reflect on the huge contribution zookeepers make to the care and conservation of all species great and small. So what more of an excuse do I need than to put together a display of all the books in the library that celebrate zookeepers and what they do.

Let's start with the humorous ones that dwell on too much poo, escaped animals and absent zookeepers.

• Poo in the Zoo by Steve Smallman & Ada Grey, and its sequel

• Poo in the Zoo; the Great Poo Mystery

Here Zookeeper Bob has to deal with just  too much poo!

• What Do They Do With All that Poo from all the Animals at the Zoo by Ann Do & Laura Wood

• Poo at the Zoo by Sarah Eason & Kirsten Collier

• Hungry Roscoe by David J. Plant

Roscoe is a hungry raccoon fed up with eating rotten junk out of the bins. What he wouldn't give for a lovely bit of fish or some fresh, juicy fruit -and where better to find food than at the zoo! An excellent idea, except for the grumpy zookeeper who's intent on keeping Roscoe OUT.

• Something's Amiss at the Zoo  by Jen Breach & Douglas Holgate

Two zookeepers just can't figure out what's wrong at the zoo. The spider monkey won't spin a web, and he seems scared of the other spiders. The tiger shark doesn't seem comfortable in the jungle enclosure, and the elephant beetle is in danger of being crushed by the other elephants. Only one person can help: the kid! He soon sets the zookeepers straight, but one mystery remains: how did these two ever manage to pass zookeeper school?

• A Sick Day for Amos McGee  by Philip Stead & Erin Stead

Every day zookeeper, Amos McGee  spends a little bit of time with each of his friends at the zoo, running races with the tortoise, keeping the shy penguin company, and even reading bedtime stories to the owl. But when Amos is too sick to make it to the zoo, his animal friends decide it's time they returned the favor. 

• Good Night, Gorilla  by Peggy Rathmann

Good night, Gorilla, says the zookeeper. But mischievous Gorilla isn't quite ready to go to sleep. He'd rather follow the zookeeper on his rounds and let all of the other animals out of their cages.

• What's That Noise?  by Mary Roennfeldt and Robert Roennfeldt

A zookeeper hears strange noises at night and searches in vain for the source.

Then there's some more serious reads:

• Juliet Nearly a Vet : Zookeeper for the Day! by Rebecca Johnson

• Yasmin the Zookeeper by Saadia Faruqi         

• Zookeeper by Heather Miller

• I Want to Be a Zookeeper by Dan Liebman

• Zookeeper  by Marne Ventura

I'm sure there's more!