ZSL London Zoo Unknown Zoo

Looks to me like the orginal enclosure at London, here's another picture of it. The moat has the same rocks:

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I think this enclosure was by the Clore?
 
The original Enclosure was demolished around the 1960's.
It was on the site where the clore was along with Rhinos.
 
Was the original elephant enclosure at London zoo moated?
My first thought at looking at the picture was the original elephant paddock at Paignton
 
Paignton never had more than 2 eles, there were 3 in the picture on eBay. I think there was an elephant enclosure before this that was fenced, but in this enclosure the African female fell into the moat and survived, it's mentioned in a book I have written by the vet at the time. She then fell into the moat of the new house and died.
 
Thanks ashley, looking at it again that must be the north bank in the background
 
ashley-h said:
Looks to me like the orginal enclosure at London, here's another picture of it. The moat has the same rocks:
Click to expand...

The two Elephants(both female) in this photo, and in the foreground in the other, are the African 'Dicksie' and (probably)the Asian 'Rusty'. there are a number of different postcards featuring them in this enclosure, which had a dry moat and a tall concrete pillar in the centre with a sunshade at the top.

The indoor stalls were down a ramp, almost underground(?)

Dicksie's fall into the moat of the Casson Elephant House resulted in her death. Some say she was given a push by her Asian companion at the time 'Lakshmi' but I don't think they were ever sure of that.
 
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I think Rusty pushed her into this moat aswell, competition for food given by the public. Their "house" was an old air raid shelter, apparently the elephants back were only inches from the roof when they stood up in them.
 
I didn't know Dicksie had been pushed/or fallen into the moat of this enclosure as well. I don't know if 'Lakshmi' lived in this enclosure too- she may be the third female in the Ebay postcard.

I have two or three postcards of the old enclosure including that one. I can remember the concrete 'sunshade' in the enclosure, but nothing about the indoor house which(obviously from your description!) was offshow.
 
Yeah, elephants went through a rough time at Regents park, it's quite sad.
 
from the book 'zoo Tails' by Oliver Graham Jones;

"the old elephant enclosure in the middle gardens was, in fact, a conversion from two very large bomb-proof shelters constructed early second world war to protect staff during a bombing raid."

a few lines down it continues;

"both the shelters were underground and made of reinforced concrete, with two doors opening opening onto a sloping walkway up to an open air compound. these underground dens were very big for people, but none too big for elephants. the two concrete dens were connected at the back by a reinforced concrete tunnel"

it goes on to describe the outdoor paddock (which i can quote if anyone asks me to)
 
Thanks, it's a good book :)
 
Elephant house

It is definitely the original Elephant Enclosure at Regents Park. I have uploaded an old Plan of the Gardens and it can be clearly seen in the North Gardens, No. 43 on the Plan.
 
reptile1517 said:
It is definitely the original Elephant Enclosure at Regents Park. I have uploaded an old Plan of the Gardens and it can be clearly seen in the North Gardens, No. 43 on the Plan.
Click to expand...




do you think you could uplode all of it so we can se the plan clearly?
 
foz said:
from the book 'zoo Tails' by Oliver Graham Jones;

"the old elephant enclosure in the middle gardens was, in fact, a conversion from two very large bomb-proof shelters constructed early second world war to protect staff during a bombing raid."

a few lines down it continues;

"both the shelters were underground and made of reinforced concrete, with two doors opening opening onto a sloping walkway up to an open air compound. these underground dens were very big for people, but none too big for elephants. the two concrete dens were connected at the back by a reinforced concrete tunnel"

it goes on to describe the outdoor paddock (which i can quote if anyone asks me to)
Click to expand...


The book Zoo Tails by Oliver Graham-Jones is an update of his 1971 book FIRST CATCH YOUR TIGER. Having read both books, FCYT is in my opinion the better. I have always said if I was ever asked to appear on Desert Island Discs, this would be the book I would take with me. Dr. Graham-Jones is still alive and lives in retirement on the south coast.
 
Riziki said:
The original Enclosure was demolished around the 1960's.
Click to expand...
According to the 1965 guidebook the magnificent new Elephant and Rhino Pavilion was opened to the public in 1965.
But I never saw the old enclosure, that's why I asked.
And on the site of the old enclosure the chimps breeding colony is situated.

Thanks again for all your answers!
 
Douanita said:
And on the site of the old enclosure the chimps breeding colony is situated.
Click to expand...

The Elephant enclosure was on the site of the Charles Clore Pavilion.

The Chimp colony was in the round Lubetkin (Gorilla) House nearby but there are no longer chimps in London. This enclosure has AYeAye lemur nowadays.
 
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