Great Zoos of the world
A grand tour with Anthony Smith

Set in the cactus landscape familiar as a backdrop to countless Western films, the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum reflects a current trend in the zoo world towards specialisation. Started as recently as 1952, this is a living museum that shows only the wildlife of the desert.
That many people hate and fear snakes is an established fact, but every year a quarter of a million people come here and bravely gaze, through glass, at the world's most complete collection of desert reptiles, cleverly displayed in 'living dioramas.' An underground tunnel gives a close-up view of the kit-fox, the North American badger, and other animals that burrow to escape the daytime heat. And there are one or two surprises, for even in a desert the otter finds somewhere to swim.
This is a zoo that blends with its surroundings to such an extent that some of the exhibits are 'volunteers' who find the softer living in the enclosures preferable to the rugged life outside.
from the South and West
(Colour)