Thanks to the University of Nebraska Press and NetGalley for this free eBook ARC in return for my honest review.

Another outstanding effort by Dr. Sandra Bonura. This time she turns her research onto Belle Benchley who was the force behind the development of the World Famous San Diego Zoo. The author sheds light on this now forgotten lady who was assigned to work on a temporary 2-week position at the zoo, and stayed for almost 30 years. Never received the title of Director, she nonetheless ran all aspects of the zoo during her tenure. She was able to procure many unique animals, and even though she did not have a college degree in zoology (she was a college-educated teacher) she had an amazing ability to bond with the animals. Filled with truly amazing stories of her life and times, this is a book that grows upon you the longer you read it. Her time at the zoo encompassed the Depression, World War 2 and food rationing. Never one to complain, her tireless efforts are captured here by Dr. Bonura, and is a welcome addition to her books on famous and now mostly forgotten Californians!
4.5****

This book thoroughly covers the life and career of the equally admirable and formidable Belle Benchley, the woman largely responsible for the growth and development of the San Diego Zoo into the revered institution it is today. Although she started as an executive secretary, she soon became the de facto zoo director, a position she held for almost thirty years without ever receiving the appropriate title or salary commensurate with her actual role.

On the one hand, her inspirational life and career clearly illustrate that a woman can be more than capable in a position of power. On the other hand, she had to fight for every achievement and was not always accepted or taken seriously by many of the men she dealt with, at least those outside of the zoo. Her employees loved her. She was a strict but fair leader who truly demonstrated deep love and concern for both the people who worked for her and the animals in her care.

Her deep love and respect for animals led to changes in how the zoo was run and its primary purpose. Her humane changes to how the zoo housed, fed, and cared for its animals not only provided a blueprint for the future of the San Diego Zoo, but also set the standard for zoos around the world. To her, the zoo was not about spectacle; it was about research, learning, and conservation.

Highlights of the book include chapters on the zoo's acquisitions of its first gorillas, giraffes, and koalas. It also includes numerous pictures from Belle's granddaughter's own private collection. If you are an animal lover, you will definitely want to read this heartwarming and inspiring true tale of the woman behind the rise of one of the world's most famous and beloved zoos.

Movie: UFOs and God

The Zoo Lady follows the career of Belle Benchley from daughter, to educator, to bookkeeper, to director (in all but name) of the San Diego Zoo. If you’ve visited Southern California and the San Diego Zoo the names in this book will sound familiar. Bonura weaves the events of Benchley’s life with those of prominent Californians of the time. Even having lived in California and been a zoo member, making multiple visits to the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal, I knew nothing about the contributions of Benchley to these outstanding institutions. Her story is truly inspirational. Through determination, hard work, and never backing down from a challenge, Benchley took a struggling zoo in financial distress to an establishment renowned by not only visitors, but the scientists and agencies focused on animal health and welfare. While it is important to remember that Benchley’s work was happening in the early 19th century when much less was known about animal psychology and mental health, what is inspiring is the way that Benchley’s own observations and time spent talking with the zookeepers and zoo workers put her ahead of her times in trying to ensure that the animals at the San Diego Zoo were treated well (for the time) and were safe in her care. This included her efforts to increase public education of the zoo and utilize animals as ambassadors to promote not only interest in funding the zoo, but for increasing the respect and care of the animals under the zoo’s care.

This book will appeal to anyone who wants to learn more about how the San Diego Zoo came to be what it is today and wants to learn more about the somewhat forgotten woman who made it all possible.

4.5/5 stars