Promotion of Diane Ackerman’s book

 
The spot was chosen on purpose, as the founder of the zoological garden and its famous pre-war director (and post-war rebuilder) Jan Żabiński - along with his wife Antonina – was bringing many Jews out of the ghetto during the time of the Holocaust, and hiding them within the zoo (unofficial estimates put the number of people rescued by them at over 100).

In 1965 Antonina and Jan Żabiński were decorated as Righteous Among the Nations.

They are also the protagonists of Diane Ackerman’s book "The Zookeeper’s Wife" (in Poland published under the title "Azyl") about the Jews rescued in the Warsaw Zoo; the book is based on the memoires of Antonina Żabińska: "Ludzie i zwierzęta" ("Men and Beasts"). "The Zookeeper’s Wife" was published in the US two years ago and found considerable appreciation among readers, reaching the NYT best seller list. The Polish edition was prepared by the Świat Książki publishing house.

Among the participants of the meeting were the deputy director of the zoological garden, Ms. Ewa Zbonikowska, Władysław Bartoszewski, who remembers Jan Żabiński from as far back as 1932 r., JHI’s Director Ms. Eleonora Bergman, and Zofia Kucówna, who read excerpts from the book to the assembly. Relatives of the Żabińskis were also present, among them the son of Jan and Antonina, Ryszard (Ryś).

After the official part in the didactic room, the guests were invited to the Żabiński villa. They were able to visit the basement where the rescued Jews were placed, walk through the secret door in the closet, and see the entire setting of this unbelievable story.

Next year the villa in the Warsaw Zoo will house an exhibition devoted to the events described in "The Zookeeper’s Wife".