ANIMAL Writes, Vol 41, Summer 2008
A publication of the Vancouver Humane Society

I probably shouldn’t be writing this – I’m seriously biased on so many levels. Rob Laidlaw is an old friend and mentor, as well as being, in my opinion, the most knowledgeable and articulate person in Canada, perhaps in North America, on captive wildlife.

In addition, having worked on captive animal issues for many years, our values are aligned. I agree with Laidlaw when he states, “More than 20 years of zoo investigations, studies and campaigns have convinced me that it’s best to keep wildlife in the wild and that most zoos should close.”

Wild Animals in Captivity is a thoughtful, provocative, but more importantly, intelligent look at why zoos are bad for animals. Because it’s non-fiction aimed at 9 – 12-year-olds, but appropriate for a much older audience, it’s also one of the most significant books that’s been written in a long time.

Laidlaw cites, in honest yet sensitive language, specific examples of animals he has observed in zoos, and how their lives differ from their counterparts in the wild. He explains the differences and what they can mean to the animals – making common sense the only pre-requisite to understanding.

Using elephants as a compelling example, he describes a family group of females and babies foraging, bathing, frolicking and eating on a journey of approximately 30 kilometres. He then tells the story of Maggie, the African elephant who languished in the Alaska Zoo for nearly 25 years. Her barren existence is stark in comparison.

He doesn’t ignore the less charismatic species. “Two Brown Lizards” evokes empathy for small, scaly animals whose lives are equally affected by their environment.

Lastly, and definitely not least for a children’s book, visually the book is, simply put, beautifully set up. The photographs are stunning and support the text with clarity and simplicity.

I grew up in Calgary, Alberta. As a child, an outing with my family was often a trip to the Calgary Zoo. Perhaps if I had access to such a book, I would have spoken up about the nagging feeling that accompanied me with each trip, a feeling that something was amiss. Instead, I kept silent for far too long.

Zoos have been marketing themselves to children with impunity for long enough. Teachers and parents should arm every single child with this book before they visit a zoo or aquarium. Dare we hope that this is only the first in a series?

Review by Debra Probert.