   | Full Text Reviews: Bulletin for the Center... - 09/01/2016 Biologist and author of The Elephant Scientist, O’Connell turns her focus to the animals in the Atlanta Zoo, reporting on an intensive five-day exploration of the facility in front of and behind the scenes. Some chapters treat specific animals (gorillas, pandas, flamingos) while others provide windows into the experience of zoo personnel. This is like a Scientists in the Field title on steroids, with a strong emphasis on the behavioral science behind the animals’ actions and the zoo staff’s caretaking measures, and there are even data sheets to guide young zoogoers into more thoughtful consideration of animal interactions. Unfortunately, the author gets in the way of much of the exploration, with repeated discussion of her feelings and reactions and stodgy reporting of dialogue; what seems intended to be an immersive zoo experience is therefore more like stories of somebody’s vacation, and the portrait of the zoo is unremittingly laudatory. Additional information appears in italicized focus sections and photo captions; though the distribution between the two is at times awkward, they contain some fascinating information. Despite the flaws, animal fans may still want to delve for the intriguing details about elephant greetings, gorilla tablet use, and flamingo solidarity. Vivid color photography appears throughout; end matter will include a bibliography and an index. DS - Copyright 2016 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. Loading...
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