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The Rhino with Glue-On Shoes: And Other Surprising True Stories of Zoo Vets and their Patients
A moray eel diagnosed with anorexia…A herd of bison whose only hope is a crusading female doctor from Paris…A vet desperately trying to save an orphaned whale by unraveling the mystery of her mother’s death…This fascinating book offers a rare glimpse into the world of wild animals and the doctors who care for them. Here pioneering zoological veterinarians—men and women on the cutting edge of a new medical frontier—tell real-life tales of daring procedures for patients weighing tons or ounces, treating symptoms ranging from broken bones to a broken heart, and life-and-death dramas that will forever change the way you think about wild animals and the bonds we share with them. At once heart-quickening and clinically fascinating, the stories in this remarkable collection represent some of the most moving and unusual cases ever taken on by zoological vets. A chronicle of discovery, compassion, and cutting-edge medicine, The Rhino with Glue-on Shoes is must reading for animal lovers, science buffs, and anyone who loves a well-told tale.
352 pages, Paperback
First published June 24, 2007
97 people are currently reading
2809 people want to read
About the author
Lucy H. Spelman
3 books2 followersDr. Lucy Spelman is a zoo and wildlife veterinarian and author. Her work experience includes nearly ten years with the Smithsonian's National Zoo, half as staff veterinarian, and half as its director. She joined the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project in October 2006 as its Africa-based regional manager. Dr. Lucy enjoys sharing her work with others through all forms of media. She and Dr. Ted Mashima are the co-editors of "The Rhino with Glue-On Shoes", and she contributed the story that gives the book its title. For Lucy's full bio and more about the book, go to:
www.drlucyspelman.com"
www.drlucyspelman.com"
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 205 reviews
March 18, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. It is a non-fiction book of short stories told by several zoo-veterinarians about some of their most memorable cases. The include a moray eel, a tiger, a bear, in a zoo setting and in the field some of the patients include an elephant, rhinos and a silver-back mountain gorilla.
There were some technical terms, but in my opinion, the authors did a very good job of explaining the procedures and medications they used in treatment of their patients. I think they also did a very good job of showcasing the animals personalities.
After reading this book, I am interested in reading more books of the same theme.
There were some technical terms, but in my opinion, the authors did a very good job of explaining the procedures and medications they used in treatment of their patients. I think they also did a very good job of showcasing the animals personalities.
After reading this book, I am interested in reading more books of the same theme.
May 30, 2014
At the Marine Mammal Center where I help as a volunteer, this book was in the gift shop and I couldn't resist the title. As it turns out, our Center's leader wrote one of the stories, so it was an extra bonus for me. There are twenty-eight stories in this volume which are placed within five different sections, each with a specific healing focus. Each story is fairly brief, which makes page-turning very easy.
There are a few standouts from vets and zoologists who obviously have a way with words, but the majority of the book is written very matter-of-factly, which is fine. The benefit of this collection is to learn about so many different approaches to so many different incidents with so many different species. How the heck do you treat a beetle infested with its own bugs? Can you give anesthesia to a frog? Where do you find a leg cast for a giraffe?
The titles for each situation are the best, as they sound like titles from mystery thrillers...The Limping Tiger, Death Of A Lemur, The Eel And The Bartender, When Whale Sharks Fly...quirky. All in all, this was a solid read.
Book Season = Year Round
There are a few standouts from vets and zoologists who obviously have a way with words, but the majority of the book is written very matter-of-factly, which is fine. The benefit of this collection is to learn about so many different approaches to so many different incidents with so many different species. How the heck do you treat a beetle infested with its own bugs? Can you give anesthesia to a frog? Where do you find a leg cast for a giraffe?
The titles for each situation are the best, as they sound like titles from mystery thrillers...The Limping Tiger, Death Of A Lemur, The Eel And The Bartender, When Whale Sharks Fly...quirky. All in all, this was a solid read.
Book Season = Year Round
April 14, 2009
In what book can you read about a hippo's root canal, a white-tailed deer with earrings, chemotherapy for fish, and a kangaroo with a spinal injury? In The Rhino With Glue-On Shoes and Other Surprising True Stories of Zoo Vets and Their Patients, Lucy H. Spelman, DVM and Ted Y. Mashima, DVM have collected 28 stories from the amazing veterinarians around the globe charged with the care of some of the earth's most fascinating and dangerous creatures.
This behind-the-scenes look at veterinary medicine in zoos and in the wild, gets the reader up close and personal for the incredible drama inherent when working with exotic animals. Spelman and Mashima have assembled these captivating tales with humor and great sensitivity to their subject, creating a very entertaining read.
The unconventional patients and their sometimes bizarre ailments were simply extraordinary. There are even two stories from our own Houston Zoo: "The Bugs Have Bugs?" - a story about a group of dung beetles with a bad case of mites; and "Amali's Example" - a chronicle of a young giraffe's leg problems, requiring a custom-made brace. The veterinarians in these stories are creative, innovative, and adventurous, going literally to the ends of the earth in order to help the animals in their care.
Each essay-length story is written by a different veterinarian. Some are very well-written, and some are merely so-so, but it was the tone and subject matter that kept me turning pages, even when the writing didn't "do it" for me. Animals hold a very special place in our lives, and The Rhino With Glue-On Shoes is a wonderfully inspiring book that I would recommend to animal lovers and aspiring veterinarians.
This behind-the-scenes look at veterinary medicine in zoos and in the wild, gets the reader up close and personal for the incredible drama inherent when working with exotic animals. Spelman and Mashima have assembled these captivating tales with humor and great sensitivity to their subject, creating a very entertaining read.
The unconventional patients and their sometimes bizarre ailments were simply extraordinary. There are even two stories from our own Houston Zoo: "The Bugs Have Bugs?" - a story about a group of dung beetles with a bad case of mites; and "Amali's Example" - a chronicle of a young giraffe's leg problems, requiring a custom-made brace. The veterinarians in these stories are creative, innovative, and adventurous, going literally to the ends of the earth in order to help the animals in their care.
Each essay-length story is written by a different veterinarian. Some are very well-written, and some are merely so-so, but it was the tone and subject matter that kept me turning pages, even when the writing didn't "do it" for me. Animals hold a very special place in our lives, and The Rhino With Glue-On Shoes is a wonderfully inspiring book that I would recommend to animal lovers and aspiring veterinarians.
December 4, 2009
I recieved this book a a present and was highly skeptical of it at first. Frankly, I wasn't sure how good the writing could be (I have found books written by doctors and vets to be poorly written overall) and wasn't really all that interested in reading what I was sure would amount to clumsy case histories of various veterinary patients.
I was quickly absorbed in the book. The stories are all very interesting, each told with a two-fold goal of education and entertainment. It is kind of like going out to dinner with a bunch of vets and listening to them tell their favorite cases. Much of the writing is good but not great and yet the individual chapters are short enough that the poor writing of any one can be forgiven and a few chapters are very well written indeed.
In then end, this is a fascinating book that gives insight into the difficult task veterinarians are faced with every day. I am really glad that I gave it a chance.
I was quickly absorbed in the book. The stories are all very interesting, each told with a two-fold goal of education and entertainment. It is kind of like going out to dinner with a bunch of vets and listening to them tell their favorite cases. Much of the writing is good but not great and yet the individual chapters are short enough that the poor writing of any one can be forgiven and a few chapters are very well written indeed.
In then end, this is a fascinating book that gives insight into the difficult task veterinarians are faced with every day. I am really glad that I gave it a chance.
July 15, 2013
“When we first examined Sally the kangaroo, she lay in shock on the ground.”
“At the time, no one in the world had successfully raised a five-month-old orphaned baby beluga whale. Our choices were decidedly few.”
“I was in Chengdu, China, preparing to perform a colonoscopy on a female giant panda with an undiagnosed intestinal disorder.”
And so begin just three of the twenty-nine stories collected in The Rhino With Glue-On Shoes, and Other Surprising True Stories of Zoo Vets and Their Patients. The book is a compilation of individual stories written by a variety of veterinarians who work in the zoo and wildlife fields.
The Rhino With Glue-On Shoes is written for anyone who loves wildlife and is interested in their care and conservation. With a forward by Jack Hanna himself and the backing of a big New York publishing house, it’s clear that the stories have a wide appeal.
Along with the baby beluga and shocky kangaroo, the contributing veterinarians share their personal stories of exciting work with mountain gorillas, bottlenose dolphins, rhinos, lemurs, and many more charismatic and not-so-popular (weedy sea dragons, anyone?) wild animal species.
Many of the stories end well for our exotic patients, as the triumphant veterinary team solves a medical mystery with the help of some incredible technology and medical specialists who are quick to assist. The orphaned beluga is still alive and well, and an adult male forest elephant in Gabon recovers successfully after getting a snare removed from his foot.
But there are also a number that don’t end as happily. A red-ruffed lemur dies slowly over several weeks as the team of veterinarians and pathologists scramble unsuccessfully to identify the disease process that is killing him. A baby giraffe seems to recover well from a hip dislocation with the help of an innovative splint but then is found dead in her stall one morning of a broken neck.
As with any compilation, the writing style and quality changes from one story to the next, but I was genuinely impressed with the way that all the authors were able to bring us along on their adventures in a natural and appealing way. Perhaps the credit for that should go more to Dr. Spelman and her co-editor, Dr. Ted Mashima?
The book also does an admirable job of tying together the clinical aspects of zoological medicine with the conservation and public health roles within the realm of wildlife health. Dr. Spelman’s introductory notes between stories are especially helpful in enabling readers to make these important connections. She concludes with these words,
"It’s essential that vets who work with wild animals find ways to integrate their expertise into the broad scheme of things. We need to share what we know and how we feel about wild animals and their health, and do our best to promote healthy ecosystems in the places where we work."
Even if you don’t necessarily want to become a zoo or wildlife veterinarian, this book provides a unique window into a fascinating area of the veterinary profession. I highly recommend it for veterinarians, students, and all those who are drawn to the wild creatures that share this planet with us.
“At the time, no one in the world had successfully raised a five-month-old orphaned baby beluga whale. Our choices were decidedly few.”
“I was in Chengdu, China, preparing to perform a colonoscopy on a female giant panda with an undiagnosed intestinal disorder.”
And so begin just three of the twenty-nine stories collected in The Rhino With Glue-On Shoes, and Other Surprising True Stories of Zoo Vets and Their Patients. The book is a compilation of individual stories written by a variety of veterinarians who work in the zoo and wildlife fields.
The Rhino With Glue-On Shoes is written for anyone who loves wildlife and is interested in their care and conservation. With a forward by Jack Hanna himself and the backing of a big New York publishing house, it’s clear that the stories have a wide appeal.
Along with the baby beluga and shocky kangaroo, the contributing veterinarians share their personal stories of exciting work with mountain gorillas, bottlenose dolphins, rhinos, lemurs, and many more charismatic and not-so-popular (weedy sea dragons, anyone?) wild animal species.
Many of the stories end well for our exotic patients, as the triumphant veterinary team solves a medical mystery with the help of some incredible technology and medical specialists who are quick to assist. The orphaned beluga is still alive and well, and an adult male forest elephant in Gabon recovers successfully after getting a snare removed from his foot.
But there are also a number that don’t end as happily. A red-ruffed lemur dies slowly over several weeks as the team of veterinarians and pathologists scramble unsuccessfully to identify the disease process that is killing him. A baby giraffe seems to recover well from a hip dislocation with the help of an innovative splint but then is found dead in her stall one morning of a broken neck.
As with any compilation, the writing style and quality changes from one story to the next, but I was genuinely impressed with the way that all the authors were able to bring us along on their adventures in a natural and appealing way. Perhaps the credit for that should go more to Dr. Spelman and her co-editor, Dr. Ted Mashima?
The book also does an admirable job of tying together the clinical aspects of zoological medicine with the conservation and public health roles within the realm of wildlife health. Dr. Spelman’s introductory notes between stories are especially helpful in enabling readers to make these important connections. She concludes with these words,
"It’s essential that vets who work with wild animals find ways to integrate their expertise into the broad scheme of things. We need to share what we know and how we feel about wild animals and their health, and do our best to promote healthy ecosystems in the places where we work."
Even if you don’t necessarily want to become a zoo or wildlife veterinarian, this book provides a unique window into a fascinating area of the veterinary profession. I highly recommend it for veterinarians, students, and all those who are drawn to the wild creatures that share this planet with us.
June 23, 2020
This was a lucky impulse buy. I couldn't resist the title and the book did not disappoint.
Spelman, a veterinarian, has compiled a large collection of essays by her fellow veterinarians who have exotic animals for patients.
We not only meet a rhino whose sore, blistering feet from the cement in the zoo, gets temporary shoes until a viable habitat is made, we also meet a moray eel who refuses to eat, an ill octopus, a polar bear with a stomach ulcer, a giraffe who needs a leg brace, a hippo who gets a root canal, even a pet goldfish with cancer.
All of the essays are written with charm and by vets who dearly love their patients. Any animal lover would enjoy this book.
Spelman, a veterinarian, has compiled a large collection of essays by her fellow veterinarians who have exotic animals for patients.
We not only meet a rhino whose sore, blistering feet from the cement in the zoo, gets temporary shoes until a viable habitat is made, we also meet a moray eel who refuses to eat, an ill octopus, a polar bear with a stomach ulcer, a giraffe who needs a leg brace, a hippo who gets a root canal, even a pet goldfish with cancer.
All of the essays are written with charm and by vets who dearly love their patients. Any animal lover would enjoy this book.
August 19, 2008
This book is what I expected Life at the Zoo to be like: tales of quirky, interesting, touching, and at times heartrending interactions between zoo vets and animals.
In this case, the book also includes the growing field of "wilderness vets," taking the interesting stance that there really isn't any true wilderness left anymore; only larger or smaller areas of managed wilderness.
In either case, Mashima and Spelman have assembled an impressive group of vets from all across the country (and the world). The stories touch on taxa from insects to marine mammals and include many of the nation's most famous zoos and aquariums. The stories themselves run from the straightforward problem/solution pattern to several where an animal we've been growing close to for pages suddenly dies with very little buildup or fanfare. This is shocking the first time you encounter it, and then pleasing as you remember 1) That life isn't a Disney story. Things die, sometimes for no reason, and 2) This is the way real life is for the vets. You get attached to animals, and sometimes terrible things happen. In that way, this book is a wonderful window into the lives of these vets.
The quality of writing, storytelling, and pacing, is irregular, as one would expect in a collection of essays written by scientists not trained as writers. However, even in the clunkier essays, the vet's fondness for the animals and passion for veterinary science shines through.
My only real criticism of this book is that it suffers from an overabundance of explication. I felt that Spelman's introduction to each "section" of the book was unnecessary, dry and at times overly pedantic. The stories can speak for themselves.
In this case, the book also includes the growing field of "wilderness vets," taking the interesting stance that there really isn't any true wilderness left anymore; only larger or smaller areas of managed wilderness.
In either case, Mashima and Spelman have assembled an impressive group of vets from all across the country (and the world). The stories touch on taxa from insects to marine mammals and include many of the nation's most famous zoos and aquariums. The stories themselves run from the straightforward problem/solution pattern to several where an animal we've been growing close to for pages suddenly dies with very little buildup or fanfare. This is shocking the first time you encounter it, and then pleasing as you remember 1) That life isn't a Disney story. Things die, sometimes for no reason, and 2) This is the way real life is for the vets. You get attached to animals, and sometimes terrible things happen. In that way, this book is a wonderful window into the lives of these vets.
The quality of writing, storytelling, and pacing, is irregular, as one would expect in a collection of essays written by scientists not trained as writers. However, even in the clunkier essays, the vet's fondness for the animals and passion for veterinary science shines through.
My only real criticism of this book is that it suffers from an overabundance of explication. I felt that Spelman's introduction to each "section" of the book was unnecessary, dry and at times overly pedantic. The stories can speak for themselves.
November 9, 2014
Zoo vets relate their experiences about animals they treated, from a dung beetle with parasites to an elephant caught in a snare, from a fish with bends to a rhino with sore feet.
The job is not easy. It can be frustrating, puzzling, and dangerous, especially when dealing with ungrateful patients. But it is also immensely rewarding for the chance to work with animals and to learn about them. Sometimes the vets are successful in treating their patients, sometimes not--but they learn.
As we follow each story, we find ourselves caring about animals and hoping for their survival. In each case we see the extent to which vets go to solve problems and to develop techniques that raise the prospect for future success in animal medicine. Each story is told with humor as the vets reveal their doubts, their frustrations, and their aha moments. An added plus is the inclusion of a photograph of each animal treated.
The job is not easy. It can be frustrating, puzzling, and dangerous, especially when dealing with ungrateful patients. But it is also immensely rewarding for the chance to work with animals and to learn about them. Sometimes the vets are successful in treating their patients, sometimes not--but they learn.
As we follow each story, we find ourselves caring about animals and hoping for their survival. In each case we see the extent to which vets go to solve problems and to develop techniques that raise the prospect for future success in animal medicine. Each story is told with humor as the vets reveal their doubts, their frustrations, and their aha moments. An added plus is the inclusion of a photograph of each animal treated.
May 2, 2009
While I was a voluneer at the Toledo Zoo I befreinded the head vet and was given opportunities to see and do things I would not have otherwise been given. Some of the stories in this book reminded me of my experience as a zoo volunteer and the interesting animals I enountered.
I really enjoyed the short stories in this book. Some were happy. Some were not. But all were well written. A must read if you have an affinity for wild animals.
I really enjoyed the short stories in this book. Some were happy. Some were not. But all were well written. A must read if you have an affinity for wild animals.
February 17, 2014
This was a compilation of short stories of animal emergencies and the vets who helped them, bears, fish, dolphins, hippos, dragon fish, whales, frogs, camels, giraffes and many more! Very endearing book and some amazing stories.
March 31, 2009
Quick read that I found very enlightening. I never really thought about zoo and wild life vets and their range and impact. Nice amount of medical detail and fascinating collaboration with doctors.
January 12, 2015
This was a delightful collection of stories - something for everyone! My favourite was the anorexic eel :)
July 16, 2021
Lots of things bothered me about this book. The biggest is when veterinarians interfere with animals in their natural habitat. It's even worse then they help transport them from their natural habitats to zoos or aquariums so they can live their lives in captivity for our viewing pleasure.
The stories of when they helped sick or injured animals were good. The ones where they helped transfer sea life from the ocean to an aquarium was awful. I don't go to zoos and aquariums anymore; I'll go to the animals rather than requiring they come to me.
The stories of when they helped sick or injured animals were good. The ones where they helped transfer sea life from the ocean to an aquarium was awful. I don't go to zoos and aquariums anymore; I'll go to the animals rather than requiring they come to me.
July 23, 2025
It was interesting and a little surprising to read about how interconnected practicing medicine is between species. Every chapter seems to be the vet saying “There’s no research on this! What am I gonna do??” and then figuring something out.
This book started out with its best and funniest zoo vet anecdotes, so I was hoping the whole book would be like that. The book was well-written despite the chapters being individually authored, so the 3/5 is more a reflection of how entertaining I found it rather than the book itself.
This book started out with its best and funniest zoo vet anecdotes, so I was hoping the whole book would be like that. The book was well-written despite the chapters being individually authored, so the 3/5 is more a reflection of how entertaining I found it rather than the book itself.
January 28, 2024
Such a great book! The stories weren’t too long and all of them were so unique and different. Wide variety of animals throughout and I had actually known about a few of these stories prior to reading. Things non-vets probably never think about! Wonderful suggestion from my friend who is a vet.
January 14, 2023
Genuinely makes me want to be a zoo vet
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October 4, 2018DNF. I really enjoyed the story about the bartender and the eel and the connection they shared. I read a few other stories and wasn’t very impressed. Some of the stories seemed to glorify the person telling the story, that of course they made the right decision (even though there were a lot of equally viable options that I felt could have had as good of or better results). I felt bad for the uneducated people in the book who were in a way “demonized.” Just Because a poor trashy person finds a baby deer and thinks it needs rescuing and doesn’t know how to properly care for it doesn’t mean that person is evil and should be punished to the full extent of the law as the author was gunning for. The amount the author of that story wanted to put them in their place really left a bad feeling in my stomach. I think education would’ve been the best tactic in that situation, not haughty superiority. Perhaps there were a few more gems in here like the story of the bartender and the eel, but I’ll never know
July 11, 2013
Imagine being a doctor having to deal with a patient who cannot describe their symptoms – even when conscious. Pediatricians don't count, because while many of their patients haven't learned verbal communication skills as yet, some have. Now, imagine that some of those patients would be apt to harm or kill you given half a chance … we've now obviously narrowed down to the zoo veterinarian.
“The Rhino with Glue-On Shoes And Other Surprising True Stories of Zoo Vets and their Patients”, edited by Lucy H. Spelman and Ted Y. Mashima, gives a voice to several veterinarians at zoos and aquariums (and occasionally in the wild). Each is given a chapter – typically 8 to 12 pages – to describe one of their most interesting cases. In some cases, it's because of the medical challenge, as in the title story written by Dr. Spelman – how do you protect the soles of one of the largest land mammals on earth? Others focus on a situation with a unique patient – “Water-Breathing Dragons” focuses on Ilze Berzins' weedy sea dragons, and Maryanne Tocidlowski's “The Bugs have Bugs?” deals with dung beetles. ALL grab the reader and refuse to let go.
The reader can hop in and catch a series of quick glimpses by reading a story at a time, or they can immerse themselves by devouring the entire book. (Or, as in my case, the reader could INTEND to read the book in short snippets, but find themselves captivated and unable to put it down.) The only “weakness” I could find is one that comes with this format; it is impossible to get to know any of the vets or their patients to any great extent because each has such a short opportunity to tell their story. Perhaps that's what the sequel will do – there WILL be a sequel, won't there? WON'T THERE??
Recommended for anyone with an interest in non-domestic animals – 5 stars.
“The Rhino with Glue-On Shoes And Other Surprising True Stories of Zoo Vets and their Patients”, edited by Lucy H. Spelman and Ted Y. Mashima, gives a voice to several veterinarians at zoos and aquariums (and occasionally in the wild). Each is given a chapter – typically 8 to 12 pages – to describe one of their most interesting cases. In some cases, it's because of the medical challenge, as in the title story written by Dr. Spelman – how do you protect the soles of one of the largest land mammals on earth? Others focus on a situation with a unique patient – “Water-Breathing Dragons” focuses on Ilze Berzins' weedy sea dragons, and Maryanne Tocidlowski's “The Bugs have Bugs?” deals with dung beetles. ALL grab the reader and refuse to let go.
The reader can hop in and catch a series of quick glimpses by reading a story at a time, or they can immerse themselves by devouring the entire book. (Or, as in my case, the reader could INTEND to read the book in short snippets, but find themselves captivated and unable to put it down.) The only “weakness” I could find is one that comes with this format; it is impossible to get to know any of the vets or their patients to any great extent because each has such a short opportunity to tell their story. Perhaps that's what the sequel will do – there WILL be a sequel, won't there? WON'T THERE??
Recommended for anyone with an interest in non-domestic animals – 5 stars.
February 9, 2016
Dedicated veterinarians from all areas of the world contributed stories to this collection concerning medical treatment of exotic animals in zoos, aquaria, and in the wild. Many of the procedures used on their patients have never been attempted before but the advances in technology and research has allowed the vets many more options than in the past. A pair of water-breathing dragons (similar to a seahorse) were treated in a hospital decompression chamber after their air bladders overinflated during transport from Australia to Florida. Patch, an Australian hobby falcon, had successful surgery to repair its coracoid, the bone that supports wing movement, while Sally, a red kangaroo, had spinal surgery to repair a disc. Cancer treatment on a goldfish, a root canal on a hippo, removal of mites on dung beetles, and aluminum shoes glued to the foot pads of a rhino are just a few of the creative medical procedures undertaken. By far my favorite story is the one about a green moray eel who had lived in an aquarium in a bar until the eel became too large for his tank. The bartender donated the eel to the New England Aquarium where the eel constantly hid in the rocks and refused to eat. Despite all attempts to lure the eel out of hiding it steadfastly refused and the aquarium staff feared they had an anorexic eel on their hands. After the bartender was contacted to question him about special foods the eel might like, he decided to come to the aquarium himself to visit. As soon as the eel saw his former friend it immediately came to the front of the tank and stared at the bartender. The eel ate its first bite of food and continued to do so from that day forward. That story just warms my heart. If you love animals you will more than likely love this book as well.
December 27, 2014
GIven my modest zookeeping experience of three years or so, you'd think this book would not surprise me. After all, I've interacted with zoo vets enough to know how varied their work is. Yet I was still pleasantly surprised. The stories are captivating, and the caring for all animals shines through: I mean, diagnosing a lonely eel? Surgery on a minuscule frog? They're not even mammals! It was fascinating.
A serious lesson to take away from this book is not only the equal importance of all species, but the limitations on the possible relationship between animals and zoo professionals, be they vets, keepers, or other workers. If we are to strive for a zoo's purpose to be preservation and restoration of species, we must realize that these animals are not ours to love and play with. Getting too attached makes them into pets. However hard it may be, distance must be kept at all times. After all, you never know when you will have to watch the animal's back retreating into its natural habitat or a transfer container, never looking back for all the mutual respect and friendliness you've had.
A serious lesson to take away from this book is not only the equal importance of all species, but the limitations on the possible relationship between animals and zoo professionals, be they vets, keepers, or other workers. If we are to strive for a zoo's purpose to be preservation and restoration of species, we must realize that these animals are not ours to love and play with. Getting too attached makes them into pets. However hard it may be, distance must be kept at all times. After all, you never know when you will have to watch the animal's back retreating into its natural habitat or a transfer container, never looking back for all the mutual respect and friendliness you've had.
October 28, 2014
A collection of more than two dozen essays from zoo veterinarians about some of their quirky and unusual cases, most occurring in the 1990's and early 2000's. Not all of the vets are great writers, but nearly all of the stories are interesting. The center section of the book has a color photo of each patient, or of an animal very like it.
My favorite stories were: the gleefully hostile chimpanzee; the fawn rescued from people who had picked it up from the roadside, fed it the wrong food and pierced its ears; the titular rhino with foot problems; the transportation of a whale shark from Taiwan to the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta; the recapture of a group of bison loose in the French countryside; and the limping tiger.
Most of the stories have happy endings, but not all: sometimes the patient dies, and that's a bit jarring.
My favorite stories were: the gleefully hostile chimpanzee; the fawn rescued from people who had picked it up from the roadside, fed it the wrong food and pierced its ears; the titular rhino with foot problems; the transportation of a whale shark from Taiwan to the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta; the recapture of a group of bison loose in the French countryside; and the limping tiger.
Most of the stories have happy endings, but not all: sometimes the patient dies, and that's a bit jarring.
October 21, 2015
True confession time – I totally wanted to be a zoo vet when I was younger, before my struggles with complex math made me realize I would never pass organic or inorganic chemistry courses. So I came into this book predisposed to enjoy it and for the most part I did. Each chapter is contributed by a different author and, as with all works with this structure, some were better writers than others. But all the stories presented interesting and unique challenges faced by these vets. Overall, a fun read but there were not many stories here I remembered much past closing the book. Also – props to Jack Hanna who wrote the foreword.
February 5, 2017
This book was charming-- vets may not be trained writers but their passion more than made up for that. Each story had some germ of soul that made it sweet, touching, or just fascinating (even the few that had sad endings.) I'm so glad I picked this up and I feel like I got to learn a bit about a career that I have more than a little bit of envy for!... as a bonus I watched Finding Dory right as I came upon the whale shark story, which couldn't've been more fitting!
November 29, 2023
This book holds a special place in my heart, so I can't give it an unbiased review. My parents gave this book to me as a gift when I was in high school and had dreams of becoming a large animal veterinarian. While my life has taken me down a different career path, I still love this book. It's filled with heart-warming, and scientifically intriguing, stories from large animal vets all over the world. This book hones in on the deep connection all animals have, including humans, to protect and care for each other and their environments. We all want to be and live well, but sometimes we need help. Whether we're a human, panda, rhino, etc.
March 7, 2009
A very enjoyable collection of writings from zoo and wildlife veterinarians. Educational without being didactic, enjoyable yet substantial. A pleasurable anthology to guzzle or parse out. Each piece would stand alone, but together they are more than the sum of their parts. I'd recommend for anyone who enjoys reading about animals. The thoughtfulness of the veterinarians comes through in each piece and provides a useful context for thinking about wild animals, zoos, and wildlife.
March 13, 2008
Vets are usually vets because they are awesome at science...and not so much with the writing thing. Sure, they can churn out lab reports galore but as literature goes, some were certainly lacking. I admire their dedication to animals and the heartfelt stories, but, the inconsistent and at times poor writing detracted from the book as a whole.
May 1, 2013
The writing may not be perfect or even very good in portions of this book, but I loved the stories and perspectives of the vets. It was a quick and entertaining read. I am amazed at the lengths some of these vets went to save even the smallest of creatures. I also enjoyed how the book framed and grouped the stories to illustrate different aspects of being a zoo or wild animal vet.
April 13, 2009
Very interesting. Before this book I never even considered things like, how you would anesthitise an eel, remove a tumor on a fish, or do a root canal on a hippo.
August 27, 2009
Good fast,fun,light-hearted. A real enjoyable ride. If you like animal stories this is an amuseing,witty and entertaining book.
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