Diary of a Zoo Vet

Panda Checkups, Escaping Chimps and Life in the Wildest Clinic on Earth
Immerse yourself in the world of a passionate veterinarian, and discover the fascinating behind-the-scenes of a zoo.

Working as a vet in a large zoo is a dream job for many—but for Tim Bouts, it's reality. As Chief Veterinary Officer, he has spent over 20 years caring for animals in world-renowned parks like London Zoo. Today, he works at the Sheikh of Qatar’s ‘Panda House.’ In this book, he shares remarkable stories from his diverse range of patients: a lion battling Covid, a hippopotamus with tuberculosis, a tigress with dental issues, and a gorilla suffering from chronic pain. Some of his anecdotes are heartwarming, like his first successful surgery, or welcoming baby pandas to Pairi Daiza in Belgium. Others are pulse-pounding, such as the failed anesthesia of an antelope, and the escape of two chimpanzees. And some are deeply moving, like the euthanasia of a herd of herpes-stricken elephants or the heartbreaking loss of a walrus mother and her calf. Through these stories, you'll get a front-row seat to Tim’s daily work and a rare glimpse into his thoughts. He doesn’t shy away from sensitive topics like euthanasia, contraception in zoos, and the challenges of quarantining animals.

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