Phillip T. Robinson directed the veterinary medical program at the San Diego Zoo for ten years. He then became director of veterinary services and animal resources at the University of California, San Diego. A founding member of the board specialty of zoological medicine of the American College of Zoological Medicine and a past president of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians, he has also worked on the medical problems of animals in private collections and has been on the design team for several major zoo-animal medical facilities in the United States.
The author entertains while educating the reader...an excellent introduction to the zoo world...the best single book to give teens who want to work in a zoo. -- Nancy Bent Booklist A thorough tour of zoos...His professional concern for animal care qualifies him to present fairly a comprehensive look. Library Journal Robinson's wry tone, coupled with his intimate knowledge of zoo animals and melancholic love for them, makes Life at the Zoo eerily compelling. -- Kate Callen San Diego Union-Tribune People not involved in the zoo field will probably enjoy this behind the scenes look into what happens at the zoo. It is also a good addition to any zookeeper's personal collection if you enjoy reading zoo related books. -- Nannette Driver Animal Keepers' Forum: The Journal of the American Association of Zoo Keepers Life at the Zoo is more than a personal memoir of an illustrious career, it is a wise and witty reflection on all aspects of zoo life. -- John Bonner New Scientist His plain-spoken descriptions of these close encounters make for the most vivid reading. -- Julia M. Klein Washington Post The book is compelling and ought to appeal to zoo lovers of all stripes. American Scientist May-June 05 Many lessons and much entertainment for all in this fascinating, frank and fair-minded book. -- Sally Walker Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 1/1/06 The reader will come away with a better appreciation for zoo evolution and the difficulties faced as zoos cope with mounting political and fiscal pressures while trying to conserve dwindling wild animal populations. -- Kirk Suedmeyer Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 36(1): 135, 2005 Robinson's wildly entertaining tales of illuminate the hazards and rewards of a world in which the natural and unnatural can collide, insightfully tracing the evolution of zoos from banal menageries to important conservation institutions. Animal Keepers' Forum March 2008