Planet Zoo : One Hundred Animals We Can't Afford to Lose

by Simon Barnes

Profiles one hundred endangered animals and discusses actions by mankind which have resulted in extinct and endangered species, as well as past and present human efforts in support of wildlife and habitat conservation.

264 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2001

Reviews

[J · Rating 1 out of 5]

Planet Zoo was a book that held much promise to me after a spree of horrible books but not even three entries in has it proven its own failure to hold the reader's mind. And it is only three entries in that I write this review and will happily change it if the book provides me a reprieve, which I doubt.

The book is over two hundred pages and starting off strong in politics. Instead of exploring more about the scimitar-horned onyx or the kakapo or even the much lesser-known no-eyed big-eyed wolf spider, readers are given author experiences to help complement the narrative about how horrible the human species is and why we are the Big Bad Wolf. And yet spoiler alert we are the last species that we cannot afford to lose, which is a nice plot twist for once.

Each entry is given a fact box, which is the most information that a reader will receive while two-thirds of the entry is an essay about man's evil and yet man's lack of intelligence or why should an animal be counted worthy towards man even if it hides in a cave its whole life. The worth any animal has is not since of its relation and purpose to man but since its Creator has provided it with worth by making it in the first place.

Secondly the author makes really bizarre statements such as how silly flightless birds are as if he knows them so much better (your god complex is showing) and than acknowledges it isn't a rare exception since there are a good chunk who actually participate in what he scoffs at.

The illustrations are beautiful and in many regards may have saved the book by currying it another star but why in this case? The animal subjects are mediocre and not given to details, which fits a book about animals that isn't really about animals.

All in all if you like conservation essays of smug and hubristic people like this author it may be a treat but if you are looking for an actual informative animal book just move on.

[Forrest]

My gosh I've been trying to remember or find the title of this book for years. This was one of my most beloved childhood favourites. I can still vividly picture the illustrations after over 20 years and the enchanting names of the more obscure creatures - Mallorcan midwife toad, scimitar-horned oryx, ivory-billed woodpecker - have never left me.

Alas, I now suspect, on reread, it would be mostly a checklist of animals we couldn't afford to lose... but let them slip away anyway.

[Maren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some.of the most beautiful watercolour paintings of animals I've seen. As the author says, there are two themes in this book. one is biodiversity. The other is Not Giving Up. Fascinating and very readable.