Dear forum members, My name is Kevin Prenger and I'm the writer of the book 'War Zone Zoo' about the history of the Berlin Zoo during the 3rd Reich and WW2. It's available on Amazon as paper back or e-book. You can read the first two chapters there. Please feel free to ask your questions about this book or the history of the Berlin zoo during the period 1933-1945. I would be pleased to answer any questions you may have! Below the book cover: The book description: May 1945. The war in Europe has come to an end. Bombardments by the Allies and house-to-house combat between the German Wehrmacht and the Russian Red Army have turned the city into a pile of rubble. The impressive 19th century zoo next to Tiergarten Park has also suffered heavily from the violence of war. Many stray bombs came down on the premises. During the battle of Berlin, the zoo turned into a battlefield as tanks and shells left their destructive traces. The premises of the zoo, once so well-attended, has deteriorated to a gruesome cratered landscape. Dead soldiers and carcasses of animals lie scattered everywhere. Less than 100 of the approximately 3,500 animals have survived. 'War Zone Zoo' tells the gripping tale of the Berlin Zoo, its employees and its animals in wartime. Its history and restoration also pass review. This is a story of how violence and dictatorship made the Berlin Zoo lose its innocence, but it is also a story of love for animals, human powers of survival and the rebirth of the historic and public icon the Berlin Zoo still is today.
I'm not a massive animal person, but I do see them as beautiful creations of God, or evolution (whichever you'd like to believe) and it's always difficult for me to hear about animals suffering for humans sake, whether it's for war purposes, or entertainment purposes, suffering is suffering. I remember reading about the Tokyo zoo, in 1944 it didn't have enough food to feed the numerous animals, so they had to poison all of them, the zookeeper, a massive animal lover, killed himself after having to kill all the animals. It's a Very sad, rarely talked about part of the war, animals caught up in mankind's war.
You can see modern examples of War vs Zoo's. I think its in Syria or some such place in the Mid East where the constant conflict has left the animals in the Zoo to starve to death and/or start eating each other.
I would be surprised if Syria has ever wasted the money for a zoo, but I'm probably wrong, I could see Iran or Iraq having zoo's and unfortunately one of them being caught up in the Iran-Iraq war. this is probably inaccurate, but didn't Saddam Hussein have a personal Zoo, or was that Pablo Escobar?
Pablo certainly had one, which is why there are hippos roaming free in Colombia. I was quite certain it was Syria, but it could well be Iraq too. Somewhere where armed conflict has destroyed the city around it and the zoo has virtually been abandoned. It was quite a while ago. But I guess you can't just open the cages and let them out -that causes all sorts of chaos. I think in this case, a lot of the starvation had to do with no food supplies coming into the city.
Ah that's right, it was Pablo. Yes I wouldn't be surprised if such a thing happened in the Iraq-Iran war, it was a particularly nasty conflict.
Thanks for your replies. In my book I also mention Ueno/Tokyo Zoo and some recent examples of zoos in war time. Especially the fate of the animals in Ueno Zoo is tragic. Because poisoning didn't always have the right effect some animals were beaten to death or starved.
Where are my manners! Welcome to the Forums by the way Kevin, it's great to have more authors around here, I will definitely check out your book in due time!
Thanks for your kind words, JJWilson. Please let me know your thoughts about my book when you've read it.
