Review: 'World War Zoos' — Bombs and Beasties in Conflict

In the late '90s, when John M. Kinder was visiting Berlin, he went to the Tiergarten—known as "the garden of beasts." There, he discovered a monument dedicated to animals killed during a World War II air raid. This memorial included a photo showing an elephant’s bloodied limb protruding from debris. Reflecting on this scene, Mr. Kinder visualizes the catastrophic event: “Amidst the darkness illuminated only by bursts of flames, one could smell the burning carcasses of the elephants, still emitting smoke and waste. One can imagine their fear right before everything crumbled around them.”

In "World War Zoos: Humans and Other Animals in the Deadliest Conflict of the Modern Era," Professor Kinder from Oklahoma State University details the profound impact that World War II and associated events such as the Great Depression, the Spanish Civil War, and the onset of the Cold War had on zoos worldwide. His work provides insight into "the scope of the international zoo sector" with content that carries "an unmistakable American slant." (Kinder delves deeply into America's rising prominence within the zoo world during the 1930s and its continued influence after WWII when European dominance waned). Drawing upon French philosopher Claude Lévi-Strauss' assertion that zoos serve as tools for reflection, he explores how human-centered thinking—deeply embedded in contemporary zoo design—not only intensified under war conditions but also became instrumentalized by Nazis who deemed Jewish people inferior compared to the creatures Adolf Hitler aimed to safeguard through his initial legislative efforts.

In 1933, when the Nazi Party enacted the new anti-vivisection "Reich Animal Protection Act," it imposed up to two years in prison for mistreating pets. This made it "the most extensive animal welfare legislation at that time." It was known that Hitler cultivated his image as both a vegetarian and someone who cared deeply for animals; reportedly, just like shielding one's eyes from scary parts in movies, he would avoid looking at violent acts against animals depicted on screen. Modern zoos had been functioning since the late 1700s as displays of imperial dominance, yet they held particular significance under Nazi rule. They served as symbols of "outdoor jails" where strength dominated weakness, providing propaganda tools such as those used by Joseph Goebbels, who invoked supposed 'natural laws' emphasizing aggression and inevitable strife.

Mr. Kinder describes how aerial bombings, food scarcity, and "scare tactics" during wartime impacted the functioning of zoos. For the sake of ensuring the safety of both citizens and these establishments, significant compromises were necessary: many caretakers had to take extreme measures such as shooting, strangling, poisoning, deliberately starving, and beating to death hundreds, potentially even thousands, of animals under their charge—a task necessitated because certain creatures could have been dangerous if they managed to escape. At the onset of World War II, Berlin's Tiergarten housed around 3,000 animals; this number plummeted to just 91 by the conflict's conclusion. Meanwhile, personnel from London's zoo facilities terminated approximately 200 animals—an act exceeding the damage inflicted upon British wildlife by Germany's Blitz campaigns. These casualties comprised about 0.05% of the total household pets put down through lethal means by their owners with firearms or veterinary assistance throughout what was termed the September Holocaust following a BBC announcement urging readiness against anticipated German assaults.

As human lives hung in the balance, zoos were deemed "a wartime burden." Due to scarce supplies of fish, London’s penguins subsisted on tiny pieces of feline flesh coated in cod liver oil. Meanwhile, in Spain, a military serving featured a decorated warthog from a local zoo. The carcass of an elephant in Madrid, found dead amidst snowy enclosures, was harvested for its rich fat reserves known as "grease." Mr. Kinder recounts instances where the Japanese used "propaganda executions," sacrificing animals to steel resolve among civilians facing impending conflict. With astonishment, he details how workers at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo dispatched a rattlesnake using scalding iron thrust into its skull; this instrument later morphed into something akin to a subdermal lasso. Despite these efforts, when the serpent still showed signs of life post-16 hours, they ultimately chose to end its suffering.

The "camp zoo" at the Nazis' Buchenwald concentration camp was designed to offer recreational activities for SS officers. It also advertised itself as an attraction for nearby Weimar families, accessible via Sunday bus services. Additionally, this zoo had another purpose: tormenting the inmates within the camp. While Jewish prisoners faced starvation, the monkeys feasted on mashed potatoes mixed with milk. Subsequently, upon encountering the grim reality of the gas chambers during liberation by Allied forces, zoos became one of the strongest symbols used to describe the experiences inside these camps. Analysts employed zoomorphic terminology to articulate the degrading atrocities they witnessed.

Despite this, there are fleeting instances of kindness showcased through Mr. Kinder’s meticulous investigation. At Amsterdam's Artis Zoo, a caretaker concealed several young Jewish males within the artificial cave structure known as the "monkey island" to shield them from Nazi capture. During the 872-day Siege of Leningrad, an enduring tale recounts how a hippopotamus endured due to her caregiver’s unwavering dedication; the latter applied camphor oil massages regularly to protect the creature against harsh winter chills. Occasionally, these stories become so intricate they hinder the narrative flow. To lighten the atmosphere, Mr. Kinder sporadically interjects somewhat clumsy colloquial comments: "'In general, zoo supporters aren’t fond of people scrutinizing behind-the-scenes aspects,' he writes humorously. 'After all, who enjoys having others peer under their skirts?'" Yet, such critiques do little to diminish what remains a commendable work blending scholarly precision with heartfelt understanding aimed at chronicling unprecedented hardship faced both by humans and beasts alike. While denouncing cruelty towards animals without reservation, the writer also probes deeper into whether maintaining zoological facilities serves broader societal interests during conflicts or peacetime periods, questioning practices involving captivity among species.

—Ms. Roberts' upcoming book, "A Training Ground for Elephants: Revisiting an Unusual Incident During Europe's Scramble for Africa," is set to be released later this month.