Mengele Zoo

Mengele Zoo is a novel from 1989 by the Norwegian author Gert Nygårdshaug.

The story is about "Mino Aquiles Portoguese" who is born in a village in Latin America's rain forests. His father teaches him to hunt butterflies. One day a disaster ruin his village, and "Mino" has to go out into the world alone. Eventually, he is the founder of "Mariposa Movement", named after (the fictional) butterfly species Mariposa mimosa. Mariposa is Spanish for "butterfly".

The book deals with topics such as environmental protection, north-south conflict and imperialism, and how you choose to prioritize their values. Despite the fact that Mengele Zoo describes the world as seen from one of the earth's most wanted terrorists' eyes, it is easy for the reader to take sides with "Mino" throughout the book. The character "Mino" appears also in later of Nygårdshaug's novels.

In May 2008 it was known that Nils Gaup is planning a film adaptation of the book. The rights to the book was first in a Hollywood based film production company, but because of financial problems they returned to Norway. It boasts an international manufacturing.

The novel is not translated into English.

Awards

The book was voted "people's all time favourite" at the festival Lillehammer litteraturfestival in 2007.