Zoo writers praised for new book
A double book celebrating the animals and history of buildings at Dudley Zoo has been launched, and has already been praised for helping to promote the Black Country's assets.
The two-in-one work outlines conservation and research at the Castle Hill site alongside the history of the world's largest collection of Tecton buildings. Conservation and Research at Dudley Zoological Gardens: Making Time for the World's Rarest Animals was co-authored by the Registrar and Research Co-ordinator at the zoo, Dr David Beeston.
Zoo writer Jill Hitchman and the Shropshire and Native Species Co-ordinator, Ian Hughes, were the other contributors.
Towers and Tectons: A View from the Hill was also written by Ms Hitchman, who designed and edited the 160-page coffee table book.
Illustrations are by award-winning photographers Paul Bishop, of Lower Gornal, and Phil Riley, of Stourbridge.
Professor Carl Chinn was guest speaker at the launch of the book at the zoo's Queen Mary Ballroom. The historian said the region had lost many of the great names of manufacturing which used to showcase the region on the world stage.
But the zoo and its location was still crucial to the profile of the West Midlands.
"This book is an important piece of PR because it shouts out to the rest of the world that we are still a region people should come to. We need to have wealth-earning facilities. This zoo and its conservation work and Tecton buildings is something we should be proud of," Professor Chinn said.
Proceeds from the publication will go towards Dudley Zoo's Madagascar Campaign to help lemurs in the wild.
The £15 book is available from the Zoo's Safari Shop, online at www.dudleyzoo. org. uk or by calling 01384 215313. It is also on sale at Waterstone's and Borders.
