Zoo Tails

by Oliver Graham-Jones

One puff adder; one antelope; one crocodile. These were the animals on the sick list with which Oliver Graham-Jones was presented on his first day as veterinary officer of London Zoo. It was 1950, and the care of wild animals in zoos was in its infancy. Previously sick animals had been placed in the care of their keepers, kept from public view, and if they didn't respond to traditional medications allowed to pass quietly away. But Oliver was to change all this. A pioneer of many of the techniques now used by vets around the world, he was instrumental in building the first animal hospital, and in moving London Zoo away from its Victorian past into the high-tech world of modern veterinary medicine. In Zoo Tails, he tells us about some of the animals he cared what it felt like when he was faced with an escaped bear or an injured elephant; and what he did when called upon to perform a colostomy on a python, or when he was asked to fit one of the ravens in the Tower of London with a wooden leg. If a dangerous animal escaped or required urgent medical attention, Oliver Graham-Jones was always on hand, ready for any eventuality. Frequently describing himself as quaking with fear, he comes across as humane, skilful and most of all incredibly brave. If you are a lover of animals in any shape or form, and My Family and Other Animals was an essential part of your childhood reading, then Zoo Tails is for you. Filled with wonderfully funny stories (with titles like Chased by a Gorilla or A Leopard in the Cabinet Room) which are told with appealingly self-deprecating humour, Zoo Tails deserves to become a classic in animal literature.

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals, Memoir, Biography, Autobiography

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pathetically obsessed with domesticated animals, I read a lot of books about esteemed pets, or people's relationships with animals - and most of them turn out to be complete drivel. This was different - it was both amusing and charming.

In 1951 Oliver Graham-Jones became the veterinary surgeon at London Zoo, and this book is about his experiences there. He is not overly sentimental about animals, but obviously cares very much for them and their well-being. He is also an excellent observer of their behaviours, and brings an attractive anthropomorphic flavour to his observations. He had a lot of funny adventures at the zoo, and his recalling of these are the mainstay of the book. He also writes about some fascinating operations, where you can only wonder at the incredible skills being described. I was particularly bowled over by his ability to operate on tiny animals, like small birds or in one instance a mouse. He had to be very fast indeed, because if they are under anaesthetic for too long they die.

The book is written very simply, and he underplays his knowledge and skills, but he was obviously an enormously talented vet. (When he finally left the zoo, he went on to teach at The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons...)

I read this as a bedtime read - I was looking for something undemanding which would entertain me until I was ready for sleep. This book fitted the bill perfectly, (quack quack), and I enjoyed it a lot.

[BellaGBear · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fun little stories about the beginning of zoo vertirianship in London Zoo

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book! Just a ton of very short stories of all the animals at the London Zoo through the eyes of the Head Vet in 1951. How amazingly different things were back then but no one really thinks about how different the zoos were. Highly recommend very quick read!

[Danielle Haupt · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
Very quick and fun read

[George Hodson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Noot noot

[Ria · Rating 5 out of 5]

A charming book charting the experiences of the author, Oliver Graham-Jones on his veterinary career at London zoo, responsible for many innovative and ground breaking strides forward both in animal welfare and techniques the author recounts many sad, emotional and at the same time hilarious anecdotes from his day to day work.
Written with a witty style this reminds me of a zoological version of the James Herriot books.
You not only learn about the author's job but you also get to know the animals, his patients through his eyes.
Well worth reading on many levels.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading about animal antics and the people who help them. This was a quick and easy read, with cute animals doing funny things. Worth the read, even just to see how things were in the land of zoos so many years ago.

[adule.books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Z téhle knížky jsem totálně hotová.♥ Je to úplně jiný žánr než, jaký normálně čtu. Hrozně moc se mi to líbilo. Autor knížky je zároveň hlavní postavou. Popisuje někdy až humorné příhody, které se mu prihodily při jeho působení v Londýnské Zoo. U některých jsem se vyloženě smála, třeba, když Vás chce zasednout obří slonice nebo se po Vás ožene obrovská gorila. Navíc mi knížka dala spoustu zajímavých informací ohledně zvířat. Knížka je rozdělena na několik kapitol a každá mě vzala za srdce. To, jak ukradl hada ze Zoo dvanáctiletý klučina nebo jak dává veterinář masáž srdce obrovské pumě na operačním sále nebo jak havranovi z londýnského Toweru opatřili dřevěnou protézu apod. Každá z historek Vás naprosto pohladí po duši, pokud jste milovníkem zvířat. Takže, za mě jedno velké ano. Knížka byla pro mě byla obrovským překvapením. A stojí rozhodně za přečtení!

[Amy Kovich · Rating 4 out of 5]

When you need a book that starts with Z to finish your year challenge, this one works. A quick read, with some cute anecdotes. It is certainly an older book, when you read it with 2022 eyes. Not in the way the animals are described but in the male/female comments made at the end of some of the chapters. The reader needs to remember when it was written and by whom.
I did enjoy the wild stories of a variety of animals, big and small, who needed help. In an era when human rights were not on the forefront of the minds of many, it was nice to read that some people believed in them, and that they extended to other animals.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this and I’m not usually one to pick up a non-fiction book, but this anthology of short stories was a joy.

What a life this man led and it was clear to see, there was never a dull moment in his time at London Zoo. All animals there were very clearly packed with own unique personalities that kept Oliver and all of those involved, on their toes.

Some of the tales are really funny and it’s written in a way that’s relatable, without complicated technical veterinary jargon. It’s also less than 200 pages and a delight to read.

Great if you’re looking for something a bit different, but also an easy bedtime read.

[Severina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short book of usually amusing, sometimes sad stories from the London Zoo’s first ever resident veterinarian, who started there in the 1950s. He was responsible for insisting the zoo open a proper hospital where he could care for the patients and for inventing the first makeshift tranquilizer gun. (Previously, if animals escaped they had to be shot.) The book is hampered I think by not quite knowing what it wants to be. It’s a mix of memoir and anecdotes, but it ends up falling short on both because there’s not enough backstory or a proper timeline for either.

[Deborah-Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful and hilarious read that I am sure will amuse all ages. I read part of it to one of the young women I work with who has a disability and she also loved it! It's one zoologist's experiences of working in the London Zoo. Trained as a vet for domestic animals, he suddenly finds himself treating exotic animals. Each tale is well-told, funny, and informative. It's a quick and easy read and hard to put down, plus some rare gems in it (like meeting with Winston Churchill!)

[Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amusing anecdotes punctuated by one instance of tragedy about the author’s adventures treating the animals residing at the Zoological Society of London, and an occasional exotic animal belonging to another zoo or a private individual, while he served as the Chief Veterinary Officer of the Zoo during the 1950s and 60s.

[Mandabplus3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A zoo hospital vets experiences in London Zoo. A great book for those interested in joining this industry.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy reading, entertaining and anecdotal. Good holiday reading.

[Wayne Jordaan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three and a half stars . What is there not to like about animal stories, especially when told by one whose professional expertise is geared towards caring for animals.

[Bethany Randell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating to read the stories of early zoo veterinary practice. As someone intrigued by zoo history this was a great book

[Barbora Zapletalová · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 hvězd

Milé veselé čtení na jeden večer, s moc hezkými povídkami ze života jednoho veterináře.

[Rainn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it. It was an interesting read and i felt like i learned a thing or two about animals and what goes into treating and caring for them. +++ it was short, so if you're skeptical i still recommend trying it.

[Josephine · Rating 5 out of 5]

My dad wrote this. Wonderful.

[Boredlaura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick, enjoyable read.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant & Hilarious Tales of London Zoo.