Wild Animals in Captivity

Wild Animals in Captivity
by Abraham Dee Bartlett
Adopted by
Peter B. Kibbee
on November 16, 2016
Cover of Wild Animals in Captivity

Wild animals in captivity; being an account of the habits, food, management and treatment of the beasts and birds at the 'Zoo,' with reminiscences and anecdotes,

By Abraham Dee Bartlett. London: Chapman and Hall, Ltd., 1898.

Abraham Dee Bartlett (1812-1897) was a prominent taxidermist and superintendent of the London Zoological Gardens. He was in regular correspondence with Charles Darwin, and served Queen Victoria by taking care of her pet birds. Bartlett left a mixed legacy. He was a well-respected and influential scientist who was a noted expert on the care and keeping of wild animals, ultimately becoming a household name. However, he was also responsible for the sale of Jumbo, the African elephant, to P. T. Barnum, despite widespread protests. Bartlett later died on the zoo grounds. One of his sons, Clarence, took over his post as superintendent. Based on Abraham’s numerous notes, another of his sons, Edward, was able to publish two books: “Life Among Wild Beasts in the Zoo” and this, “Wild Animals in Captivity,” which includes an entire chapter on animal nutrition (pp. 347-367). The cover includes an image of zoo keepers forcefully restraining an elephant.

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