The History of Zoos and Aquariums: From Royal Gifts to Biodiversity Conservation

Gordon McGregor Reid & Geoffrey Moore (eds)
Chester Zoo – The North of England Zoological Society, 2014
158 pp. illus.
ISBN: 978-1871271058

Modern zoos and aquariums attract more than 700 million visitors every year worldwide and contribute more than US$350 million to conservation projects. The History of Zoos and Aquariums: From Royal gifts to Biodiversity Conservation celebrates the 75^th Anniversary of SHNH – the Society for the History of Natural History in 2012 and the 80^th Anniversary of Chester Zoo in 2014. Published with the support of Chester Zoo, The Society for the History of Natural History, The Linnean Society of London, The Bartlett Society and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, these accounts by Historians of Science, Museologists and Zoo and Aquarium workers document zoos and aquariums in the past and present, peace and war.

This publication explains their origins in antiquity and how they evolved into organisations for public leisure, education and science, becoming committed to biodiversity conservation and sustainable futures. Edited by Gordon Mcgregor Reid, former Director of Chester Zoo and Geoffrey Moore, past president of the Society for the History of Natural History.