Zoo Veterinarians

"Irus Braverman’s newest book is a marvel. In her characteristically eloquent and lucid style, she reminds us of our proximity, anatomically and ethically, to our animal brethren, including those with fins and gills." -Richard M. Ratzan, editor of Imagining Vesalius

"Braverman’s innovative ethnographic foray into the work of zoo and aquaria veterinarians could not be more timely. Zoo Veterinarians incisively underscores the need for global health frameworks to adopt a multispecies orientation that brings medicine into closer conversation with the social sciences to understand diseases and their possible cures. Immensely readable and thought-provoking, Zoo Veterinarians will appeal to scholars and lay readers alike." -Maneesha Deckha, University of Victoria

"Animal welfare—or conservation? Irus Braverman takes us behind the scenes in zoos and aquariums to witness the daily work of the ultimate general practitioner: the veterinarian who may daily need to treat a dozen different species. In an era of ecological crisis, she passionately argues the importance of interdisciplinary meddling and open conversation between experts and outsiders." - John Law, author of After Method: Mess in Social Science Research

"In this vividly written and deeply empathetic book, Braverman takes us on a journey into the world of zoo and aquarium veterinarians as they grapple with the scientific and ethical challenges of caring for wild animals in an increasingly human-made world. Inspiring and troubling in equal measure, Zoo Veterinarians shows us how necessary and how hard it is to balance the wellbeing of individual, species, and ecosystems, to engage responsibly with the fleshy materiality of diverse animals, and to build bridges between veterinary experts and all the rest of us who care deeply about the fate of wild animals." - Etienne Benson, author of Wired Wilderness

"In this original and uniquely perceptive book, Braverman delicately documents and examines the work of zoo and aquarium veterinarians, whether it concerns a supernumerary giraffe or a cross river puffer fish with skin problems. In doing so, she provides a wonderfully insightful account not only of veterinarians and animals but also of the practices, materials, bodies and concerns that bind them together." - Henry Buller, coauthor of Food and Animal Welfare

"Zoo veterinarians are a critical but poorly documented community at the heart of the modern zoo. With this engaging behind-the-scenes study, Braverman brings their work into the light, showing how these versatile professionals are also playing an increasingly important role in advancing wildlife and ecological health outside zoo walls. This book should be read by everyone who cares about zoos, animals, and the concerns and responsibilities shaping our shared welfare on the planet." - Ben A. Minteer, author of The Fall of the Wild

"Irus Braverman’s newest book is a marvel. In her characteristically eloquent and lucid style, she reminds us of our proximity, anatomically and ethically, to our animal brethren, including those with fins and gills." -Richard M. Ratzan, editor of Imagining Vesalius

"Braverman’s innovative ethnographic foray into the work of zoo and aquaria veterinarians could not be more timely. Zoo Veterinarians incisively underscores the need for global health frameworks to adopt a multispecies orientation that brings medicine into closer conversation with the social sciences to understand diseases and their possible cures. Immensely readable and thought-provoking, Zoo Veterinarians will appeal to scholars and lay readers alike." -Maneesha Deckha, University of Victoria

"Animal welfare—or conservation? Irus Braverman takes us behind the scenes in zoos and aquariums to witness the daily work of the ultimate general practitioner: the veterinarian who may daily need to treat a dozen different species. In an era of ecological crisis, she passionately argues the importance of interdisciplinary meddling and open conversation between experts and outsiders." - John Law, author of After Method: Mess in Social Science Research

"In this vividly written and deeply empathetic book, Braverman takes us on a journey into the world of zoo and aquarium veterinarians as they grapple with the scientific and ethical challenges of caring for wild animals in an increasingly human-made world. Inspiring and troubling in equal measure, Zoo Veterinarians shows us how necessary and how hard it is to balance the wellbeing of individual, species, and ecosystems, to engage responsibly with the fleshy materiality of diverse animals, and to build bridges between veterinary experts and all the rest of us who care deeply about the fate of wild animals." - Etienne Benson, author of Wired Wilderness

"In this original and uniquely perceptive book, Braverman delicately documents and examines the work of zoo and aquarium veterinarians, whether it concerns a supernumerary giraffe or a cross river puffer fish with skin problems. In doing so, she provides a wonderfully insightful account not only of veterinarians and animals but also of the practices, materials, bodies and concerns that bind them together." - Henry Buller, coauthor of Food and Animal Welfare

"Zoo veterinarians are a critical but poorly documented community at the heart of the modern zoo. With this engaging behind-the-scenes study, Braverman brings their work into the light, showing how these versatile professionals are also playing an increasingly important role in advancing wildlife and ecological health outside zoo walls. This book should be read by everyone who cares about zoos, animals, and the concerns and responsibilities shaping our shared welfare on the planet." - Ben A. Minteer, author of The Fall of the Wild