Publishers Review

This is the story of two women who became owners of one of the world’s most respected zoos. Starting off as rival pet shop owners, Molly Badham and Nathalie Evans joined forces as owners of Twycross Zoo nearly 40 years ago and soon it became famous for the chimpanzees who starred in the television commercials for Brooke Bond tea.

When Molly Badham saw her first monkey in the window of Nathalie Evan’s shop it was to begin a life-long passion for both women with our nearest animal relatives. As their knowledge and collection grew they soon found that animals great and small would take over their lives. From Sue, their first chimp, who would join them in front of the television with her evening glass of sherry, to Joe the gorilla who loved his morning bubble bath. Even today Molly and Nathalie never know who, or what, will be sharing their home next, from Indian otter cubs to Malaysian tapirs, every houseguest receives care, respect and love.

Molly’s Zoo is a humorous and affectionate account of how these two brave women became partners in the difficult years after the war and formed an animal collection that evolved into a full-scale zoo. How they discovered entirely new methods of keeping primates and are now acclaimed by zoologists and conservationists throughout the world for their success in breeding endangered animals.

Molly’s Zoo looks back at the challenges, rewards, laughs and heartaches of these two exceptional ladies, the first female zoo owners in the world, who have done much more to increase our understanding and love for our nearest animal relations.

Molly Badham and Nathalie Evans have been keeping primates and other animals for nearly fifty years. They are currently directors of the Twycross Zoo East Midland Zoological Society

I was rather cheeky and used this book as my "E" author for my A to Z challenge. Once I'd started reading it, I cursed for having not read it sooner.

I will also confess to crying a little bit in places.

Offered up as a bookring on BCUK although I will consider other particpants, I'm just too lazy/busy* to offer it up anywhere else.

*delete as appropriate

Ring Smallprint

If you wish to be added to the list, please PM me with your details.
Note that you may need to mail internationally.

You will be sending the book to the person who appears after you in the list, so you need to PM them to get their address.

It's not a race, but please read and send the book on as speedily as you can, other people want to read it too.

Please journal the book once you have received it (so we all know where it currently is) and again when you have read it (so we know what you thought of it!)

Participants (may be subject to change)


Spike1972
catrionamoore

Arrived safely, and I've only just found what was included! Thank you very much! ;o)

Just letting you know I've now started this book.

I enjoyed this book, though I admit to a few *gasps* and one or two exclaimations of "No, you can't do that!", but had to remind myself that these girls were just learning, adn learning by their mistakes. Also, this was the 1970's, and a lot has changed since then, thankfully.

My only concern while reading was where and how they got new monkeys, apes and other animals. Were they brought in from the Wild in order to be put in this zoo?

I don't think so, and I seriously hope not, but unless I've missed something - and someone please correct me if I have - they don't mention anything about legislation to stop this until 1980.

Overall though you can't do feel anything but admiration for the dedication and passion of everyone involved in the zoo, and the work that they put in.

Thanks Catriona for letting me read this.

This bookring is looking for more readers now, before it goes back home.

Extention of the Bookring:

Laura0141 (UK).
Sherlockfan (NZ).

Received with thanks.

Will start this today.

Abandoned under 50 Page Rule.

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PMing Sherlockfan for addy

On way to Sherlockfan

Book arrived here in NZ yesterday.
19 weeks to get here!!!!! That is ridiculous.
Using economy post is NOT ridiculous, just this particular instance.

I do hope that the people who are sending books for our convention in February don't get caught by the same "slow boat to China".

But, thanks for sending it.

Catrionamoore - Are you wanting the book back for your permanent collection? IF so please send your address.
Otherwise I could mention it on the BCNZ Yahoo site to see if anyone would like it down here.

Just after I started reading this book I travelled to Palmerston North, a 2 hour drive from Wellington where I live, taking the book with me to read. Unfortunately I left the book there. I've just revisited our family there and reclaimed the book so will attempt to finish it quickly.

Just thought I'd better make this entry so those who've had it before me will know it isn't lost.

I put a message on BCNZ Yahoo site seeking interest in a bookring for the book. Initially I only had one response from priceliss to whom I am sending the book today.

I've had a p-mail from pluisje who would like to read it next please. She is a vet so will be even more interested than an ordinary person like me.

Hope it conitnues to enthrall those who read it.
Very interesting story about the dedication and care with which Twyford Zoo was established. The animals are quite lovable.

Received today.

A very interesting read about how they set up the zoo, but like Spike1972 I also wondered about what methods were used to acquire the monkeys to stock the zoo, were they bought to order. Otherwise an interesting read about two women with a common interest in monkeys that snowballed into a zoo.

PM'd pluisje for an address.

Posted.

This little book was waiting for me when I returned from a long weekend away, so it might have been there for a while.
Thank you for adding me to the ring. I've been a "sleeping" bookcrosser for a while but I am happy to have been seduced again (thanks Sherlockfan:-)

An interesting read about these women that end up in an animal rollercoaster that results in a huge professional zoo.
Like the other journallers I could not believe how the animal trade was hardly controlled by legislation-up to shockingly recently!
I've never particularly liked zoos, the "animals in small cages" but quite like the ones where they create whole ecosystems like Burgers Zoo in Arnhem (The Netherlands) where they have a desert, an ocean, a bush and more.
I checked the Twycross Zoo website and they have an amazing selection of animals, some still in smaller cages but hopefully that will change.
I would be nice to walk around there knowing the history and maybe even some of the animals or at least their parents:-)
Thank you for sharing the book. I was waiting to see if anyone else is interested but I am still the last one in the bookring so I'll pm catrionamoore to see if the book is going to travel back home to the UK.