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| Babylon's Ark: The Incredible Wartime Rescue of the Baghdad Zoo | 
| Authors: Lawrence Anthony, Graham Spence
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Category: Book
List Price: $14.95
Buy New: $8.40
You Save: $6.55 (44%)
New (32) from $8.40
Avg. Customer Rating:  15 reviews
Sales Rank: 224578
Media: Paperback
Edition: Reprint
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 256
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.8
ISBN: 0312382154
Dewey Decimal Number: 590.7356747
EAN: 9780312382155
ASIN: 0312382154
Publication Date: July 8, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
Tragedy to Triumph October 2, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I truly enjoyed reading "Babylon's Ark." The news is often full of disheartening examples of man's inhumanity to man and to animals. It's wonderful to see examples of courage and love that show us man's great humanity. Such is the case of Lawrence Anthony, a conservationist from South Africa, who felt compelled to rescue the animals in the Baghdad zoo.
Anthony pulled many strings to be able to enter a war zone in his eagerness to save these animals, but he was unprepared for the terrible condition of the animals and the places they lived. I loved his philosophy " whatever happens finish the task you start." It was his ability to concentrate on one task at a time that kept him from being overwhelmed.
The stories of individual animals are sometimes tragic and sometimes heartwarming and always interesting. And when Anthony set out to do the impossible, others joined in. A great story!
Truly Inspiring July 26, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book was impossible to put down. It was more gripping than most fiction I read and even more fascinating given that it's a true story.
I felt many emotions while reading this book -- it was very moving, frustrating, funny, and sad -- but above all, learning about one man's gritty determination to save the animals, against all odds, was truly inspiring.
Riveting June 11, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
The author's passion for animal welfare at the expense of his own safety is extraordinary. His regard for Iraqi counterparts reflects personal sacrifice and humility in the face of real danger. Unlike Matthew Bogdanos (author of "Thieves of Baghdad"), Lawrence Anthony and Graham Spence hold the reader's attention throughout "Babylon's Ark" due to a coherent writing style. Major players are identified and fully integrated into the context of the rescue mission. Also, the authors suspend political judgments. However, an astute reader can discern the foolhardiness of the Bush administration's ill equipped shock and awe campaign. This is one of those rare books that you don't put down until the last page is read!
Save a zoo! Save the world! Lawrence Anthony is a leader for us all! May 25, 2007
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
I'm not much of a nonfiction reader, but after hearing about Lawrence Anthony's book on the CBS Sunday Morning News I had to have it. Ever slowed down the car to let a squirrel or goose get out of your way? Ever caught a small bird or mouse in your garage and taken it outside to set free? Although your animal-loving efforts are certainly appreciated, you will never believe the conflicts Anthony faced to save the Baghdad zoo.
Arriving on the cusp of the war, Anthony discovers most of the animals have died of starvation or been stolen by looters. With only 36 animals left, guns firing in the distance, food and supplies stolen, and only a handful of people for a staff, Anthony questions whether he should shoot the animals to end their misery or do what he came to Iraq to do. Save the zoo!
As an outsider, Anthony paints an amazing picture of a war-torn country, surrounded by American troops, but his focus stays on the animals. The story he tells of the animals that have survived, either because they have sharp claws or teeth (or both) and could defend themselves, is just haunting. His struggles to provide food, water, and safety are a never ending battle. It was also good to read how many American soldiers helped provide aide. Some soldier's bought an entire flock of sheep with their own money for Anthony to use as food for the carnivores.
Lawrence was also responsible for setting up an Iraqi SPCA which closed down a black market zoo and rescued tons of animals that were in even worse conditions. They also went in search of Saddam's million-dollar Arabian horses after they came up missing from Saddam's palace, and they rescued a pack of lions from Uday Hussein's abandoned palace. The stories and struggles are never ending, but Lawrence's determination will definitely inspire you.
So far, this is the best book I've read all year! I doubt any other book of such strength and will could ever come close! Animal lover or not, don't miss out on this story. It's a different side of the war that television and news deprives us of!
Great dedication to saving animals May 20, 2007
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I'm currently stationed in Iraq and work at the Baghdad Zoo and wanted to know what the first guys did to get this place back up and running. I heard about this book from a friend who had seen it on Amazon.com, so I thought why not try it. I began to read it and I could actually see all the stuff Lawrence Anthony was talking about. I went back to the zoo a couple days later and sat down with the director and discussed the book with him and asked alot of questions and he told me the same stories. I now have a great outlook on working with this place and the staff, thanks to this wonderful book. If it wasn't for people like Lawrence Anthony doing these amazing things the animals would have died and the zoo would no longer be a part of this city's future. I wrote to Lawrence Anthony after reading this book and told him thank you for all your hard work and dedication to the animals and now we comunicate often and he is planning another trip here to see what progress has been made. I would recommend this book to any animal lover who wants to read about the great lengths some people will go to save them. Thank you again Lawrence.
Sincerely,
SFC Herb Mowery
Baghdad, Iraq
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Wildlife, nature and the Environment
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