Title: The Medici giraffe : and other tales of exotic animals and power /
Authors: Belozerskaya, Marina, 1966-
Year: 2006
Subjects: Wild animals as pets History.; Wild animal collecting History.; Exotic animals History.; Human-animal relationships History; Diplomatic gifts History.; Diplomatic gifts; Exotic animals; Human-animal relationships; Wild animal collecting; Wild animals as pets; Djur och människor histoira.; Djur sociala aspekter historia.
Abstract: A history of the influential role of exotic animals cites their application as diplomatic gifts and royal treasures, sharing such tales as those about the organized Medici hunts that were aided by cheetahs, Josephine Bonaparte's black swan breeding practices, and William Randolph Hearst's private California preserve.
Contents: Elephants for a kingdom -- Controlling nature in the Roman arena -- How a giraffe turned a merchant into a prince -- Human animals in the new world and the old -- Rudolf II's empire of knowledge -- The black swans of Malmaison -- Beyond private delight -- Little people in furry suits.