People are passionate about animals, as reflected in their annual expenditure of billions of dollars to purchase pets, supplies and animal medical care. Visiting zoos is a major pastime in America and developed countries around the world. The motives of zoo goers range from simple curiosity and amusement, to education and spiritual growth. With the growing public awareness of environmental degradation and the endangerment of animal species and their natural habitats, society's expectations of zoos have risen steeply. In addition, animal welfare concerns have placed zoos under a public microscope, questioning the care and conditions of animals in their stewardship.

In response to these elevated expectations, the professionals in the zoo management field have undergone a rapid course of evolution, changing many of their priorities and programs. Many of these changes have come about through a ferment of internal debate, and veterinarians have been right in the thick of the struggles for change. The story of this evolution and insights into new ways of thinking are important to understanding why zoos are what they are today, what they can become in the future, and how they may contribute to the survival of animal species on our planet.

This book contains stories about zoo animals, zoo people, and a few about their adversaries. A primary focus of the book deals with the dynamics of how people work together to run a zoo, and how they cope with the ups and downs of life at the zoo through personality, perseverance and humor.