We Bought a Zoo
The Amazing True Story of a Young Family, a Broken Down Zoo, and the 200 Wild Animals That Change Their Lives Forever
By Benjamin Mee | Publisher: Doubleday Canada
About the book
NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE
The remarkable true story of a family who move into a rundown zoo—already a BBC documentary miniseries and excerpted in The Guardian.
In the market for a house and an adventure, Benjamin Mee moved his family to an unlikely new home: a dilapidated zoo in the English countryside. Mee had a dream to refurbish the zoo and run it as a family business. His friends and colleagues thought he was crazy.
But in 2006, Mee and his wife with their two children, his brother, and his 76-year-old mother moved into the Dartmoor Wildlife Park. Their extended family now included: Solomon, an African lion and scourge of the local golf course; Zak, the rickety Alpha wolf, a broadly benevolent dictator clinging to power; Ronnie, a Brazilian tapir, easily capable of killing a man, but hopelessly soppy; and Sovereign, a jaguar and would-be ninja, who has devised a long term escape plan and implemented it.
Nothing was easy, given the family’s lack of experience as zookeepers, and what follows is a magical exploration of the mysteries of the animal kingdom, the power of family, and the triumph of hope over tragedy. We Bought a Zoo is a profoundly moving portrait of an unforgettable family living in the most extraordinary circumstances.
Editions of We Bought a Zoo
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780385666213
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780385666220
- EBook
- ISBN 9780307372475
Read an Excerpt
NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE
The remarkable true story of a family who move into a rundown zoo—already a BBC documentary miniseries and excerpted in The Guardian.
In the market for a house and an adventure, Benjamin Mee moved his family to an unlikely new home: a dilapidated zoo in the English countryside. Mee had a dream to refurbish the zoo and run it as a family business. His friends and colleagues thought he was crazy.
But in 2006, Mee and his wife with their two children, his brother, and his 76-year-old mother moved into the Dartmoor Wildlife Park. Their extended family now included: Solomon, an African lion and scourge of the local golf course; Zak, the rickety Alpha wolf, a broadly benevolent dictator clinging to power; Ronnie, a Brazilian tapir, easily capable of killing a man, but hopelessly soppy; and Sovereign, a jaguar and would-be ninja, who has devised a long term escape plan and implemented it.
Nothing was easy, given the family’s lack of experience as zookeepers, and what follows is a magical exploration of the mysteries of the animal kingdom, the power of family, and the triumph of hope over tragedy. We Bought a Zoo is a profoundly moving portrait of an unforgettable family living in the most extraordinary circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is We Bought a Zoo about?
NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE
The remarkable true story of a family who move into a rundown zoo—already a BBC documentary miniseries and excerpted in The Guardian.
In the market for a house and an adventure, Benjamin Mee moved his family to an unlikely new home: a dilapidated zoo in the English countryside. Mee had a dream to refurbish the zoo and run it as a family business. His friends and colleagues thought he was crazy.
But in 2006, Mee and his wife with their two children, his brother, and his 76-year-old mother moved into the Dartmoor Wildlife Park. Their extended family now included: Solomon, an African lion and scourge of the local golf course; Zak, the rickety Alpha wolf, a broadly benevolent dictator clinging to power; Ronnie, a Brazilian tapir, easily capable of killing a man, but hopelessly soppy; and Sovereign, a jaguar and would-be ninja, who has devised a long term escape plan and implemented it.
Nothing was easy, given the family’s lack of experience as zookeepers, and what follows is a magical exploration of the mysteries of the animal kingdom, the power of family, and the triumph of hope over tragedy. We Bought a Zoo is a profoundly moving portrait of an unforgettable family living in the most extraordinary circumstances.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in We Bought a Zoo?
Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Biography and non-fiction prose > Memoirs
Where can I read a sample of We Bought a Zoo?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780385666213
Who is/are the Author/s of the book We Bought a Zoo?
Benjamin Mee
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
We Bought a Zoo is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780385666213) and paperback(ISBN 9780385666220) and ebook(ISBN 9780307372475)
Where can I buy We Bought a Zoo online or support local independent bookshops?
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Where can I buy We Bought a Zoo?