The Zoo Lady
How Belle Benchley Built the San Diego Zoo
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Pub Date Oct 1 2026 | Archive Date Sep 30 2026
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Description
The struggling San Diego Zoo received a miracle in 1927: Belle Jennings Benchley, a middle-aged, newly divorced mother, reluctantly accepted a temporary job she openly “dreaded.” Small in stature and matronly in appearance, she charmed everyone she met—but beneath that gentle demeanor lay a leader of steel.
Benchley was just as likely to be found nurturing a vulnerable infant animal or calming fighting primates as she was wrestling a rattlesnake. Through these hands-on encounters, she won the deep affection of staff and visitors alike. Despite her lack of scientific credentials, the “Zoo Lady,” as she was fondly called, relied on curiosity and common sense to help build what would become a world-class institution. Drawing insights from the animals themselves rather than the era’s rigid authorities, she pioneered conservation practices guided by her “animal instinct,” a term she coined.
Benchley authored four best-selling books that humorously illustrated that animals are not so different from people. Even as she faced relentless pressure to “stay in her place,” she met every challenge with unshakable courage. Over nearly three decades, Benchley transformed the San Diego Zoo into a global landmark, inventing groundbreaking educational programs that mentored generations of conservation leaders.
A true trailblazer, Benchley paved the way for future icons like Jane Goodall and Dian Fossey, becoming the world’s first woman director of a major zoo and the first woman elected president of the national association now known as the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The Zoo Lady tells the extraordinary story of a woman whose courage and compassion forever changed zoology and reshaped the way we see—and care for—the animal world.
Advance Praise
“For all zoo and history fans, this is a must! Once again, with her impeccable research and splendid storytelling, Sandra Bonura has resurrected the story of a forgotten San Diego pioneer. In this lovingly crafted, definitive biography of Belle Benchley, Bonura brings to life one of the most remarkable women of her century.”—Ken Kramer, creator and host of the KPBS series Ken Kramer’s About San Diego
“It’s about time that Belle Benchley had her own modern biography. She was a trailblazing woman leader if there ever was one!”—Lynda Rutledge Stephenson, author of The San Diego Zoo: The First Century and the best-selling novel West with Giraffes
“Belle Benchley broke the glass ceiling of the zoological world. She was the first woman zoo director and the first woman president of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. In a professional world surrounded entirely by men, this amazing woman broke barriers, blazing a trail for the many incredibly talented female professionals to follow.”—Dan Ashe, president and CEO of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
“Belle Benchley’s story—nearly lost to history—comes vividly alive in Sandra Bonura’s moving portrait of the woman whose compassion and determination carried the San Diego Zoo through its most uncertain times and changed the future of zoos around the world.”—Kathi Diamant, author of Heart of the Zoo: How San Diego Zoo Director Chuck Bieler Earned His Stripes
“Sandra Bonura captures and brings to life San Diego’s rich history in ways few historians match. Her biography of Belle Benchley reveals the extraordinary, little-known story of a woman who made history and whose legacy still resonates today.”—William Lawrence, president and CEO of the San Diego History Center
“Belle Benchley is an inspiring figure for anyone who aspires to be a champion for wildlife professionally. As the world’s first woman zoo director, she helped pave the way for women like me to lead major zoological institutions today. She was a driving force behind the modern zoos we see today, always focusing on improving animal care and creating impactful educational opportunities for future generations.”—Jo-Elle Mogerman, president and CEO of the Philadelphia Zoo
“Belle Benchley was a true pioneer whose legacy continues to inspire the global zoo and aquarium community. As the first woman zoo director in the world, her vision and leadership broke barriers and advanced animal care and conservation—a path the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums continues moving forward today.”—Karen Fifield, chief executive of Te Nukuao Wellington Zoo in New Zealand and president of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums
Available Editions
| EDITION | Hardcover |
| ISBN | 9781496246240 |
| PRICE | $36.95 (USD) |
| PAGES | 320 |