Born to Be Wild
Reckoning with the Zoo in the Age of Extinction
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Born to Be Wild
Narrated by:
Andrew Westoll
Buy Now for ₹667.71
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Narrated by:
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Andrew Westoll
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Written by:
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Andrew Westoll
Most thinking on the modern zoo falls neatly into two camps: zoos are either vital institutions in the struggle against the Sixth Extinction, or cruel anachronisms that deny life and liberty to some of the most awe-inspiring creatures on Earth.
In this deeply researched, elegantly written, and compassionately argued book, Andrew Westoll explores the many paradoxes of the modern zoo, while engaging readers in the practical and ethical quandaries that lie at the heart of the institution.
Born to Be Wild takes us to some of the most iconic zoological parks in the world, where we meet extraordinary animals—from the Sumatran tigers of London to the giant pandas of Vienna—and the humans who look after them. Along the way there is a death in Copenhagen, a shooting in Cincinnati, an elephant in a New York courtroom, and a fugitive owl in Central Park.
As the climate emergency churns through the biodiversity of our planet, zoos struggle to remain relevant as they try to balance our need to connect with nature and our responsibility to protect it. In Born to Be Wild, Westoll grapples with the impossible question of whether the diminished lives of captive animals can ever be justified, at a time when the world’s wild places are nearing extinction.
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Critic Reviews
Named a Best Book of Fall 2026 by The Walrus
“Born to Be Wild allows a close look at gorillas, giraffes, hippos, and tigers in places as far flung as Copenhagen, Cincinnati, the Congo and the wilds of Toronto. The writing is elegant, the research impeccable, but it's Westoll's mind, his willingness to wrestle with the ethics of captivity, that makes this book so incredibly special. To read it is to go on a grand adventure to the heart of the most important question—what does it mean to be truly alive?” —Claire Cameron, award-winning author of How to Survive a Bear Attack
“A deeply thought-provoking look at one of humanity's strangest inventions. Westoll's empathy for animals, and his transcendent pleasure in connecting with them, come through on every page. Read this before your next trip to the zoo.” ―Emma Marris, award-winning author of Wild Souls
“An honest and elegant travelogue. . . . Westoll argues, through extensive reporting and unflinching reflection, that the future of zoos must embrace a kind of radical explicitness and not obfuscate the limitations and consequences of what happens within.” —The Walrus, ‘The Best Books of Fall 2026’
“Born to Be Wild allows a close look at gorillas, giraffes, hippos, and tigers in places as far flung as Copenhagen, Cincinnati, the Congo and the wilds of Toronto. The writing is elegant, the research impeccable, but it's Westoll's mind, his willingness to wrestle with the ethics of captivity, that makes this book so incredibly special. To read it is to go on a grand adventure to the heart of the most important question—what does it mean to be truly alive?” —Claire Cameron, award-winning author of How to Survive a Bear Attack
“A deeply thought-provoking look at one of humanity's strangest inventions. Westoll's empathy for animals, and his transcendent pleasure in connecting with them, come through on every page. Read this before your next trip to the zoo.” ―Emma Marris, award-winning author of Wild Souls
“An honest and elegant travelogue. . . . Westoll argues, through extensive reporting and unflinching reflection, that the future of zoos must embrace a kind of radical explicitness and not obfuscate the limitations and consequences of what happens within.” —The Walrus, ‘The Best Books of Fall 2026’
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