Hull Zoological Gardens

S

Strathmorezoo

Well-Known Member
The hidden history of the former zoo will be revealed during a series of events this weekend. A workshop and yard on Hutt Street was part of the city's zoological garden which was open from 1840 to 1861,providing a home for 52 species, including elephants, lions, hippopotamus and the largest collection of polarbears. The site has been restored by the current owners and open to the public this weekend as part of the Heritage Open Days. The zookeepers house backed onto the workshop.
If you're local, could be worth a visit.
 
Strathmorezoo said:
The hidden history of the former zoo will be revealed during a series of events this weekend. A workshop and yard on Hutt Street was part of the city's zoological garden which was open from 1840 to 1861,providing a home for 52 species, including elephants, lions, hippopotamus and the largest collection of polarbears. The site has been restored by the current owners and open to the public this weekend as part of the Heritage Open Days. The zookeepers house backed onto the workshop.
If you're local, could be worth a visit.
Click to expand...
I’d love to know more about this place. I just might see what Clinton Keeling had to say about it
 
Strathmorezoo said:
....the city's zoological garden which was open from 1840 to 1861,providing a home for 52 species, including elephants, lions, hippopotamus and the largest collection of polarbears. ....
Click to expand...
The story of Hull Zoo's hippopotamus is interesting.

In 1860 London Zoo acquired the hippotamus "Bucheet" which was shipped to London together with two shoebills; the shoebills were the first of their species at London Zoo and were, almost certainly, the first living shoebills ever to leave Africa.

London Zoo did not keep the hippo, presumably, because the collection already included a pair of hippos; the male "Obaysch" (received 1850) and the female "Adhela" (obtained 1854 ).

The hippo "Bucheet" was sold and then temporarily housed in Hull Zoo, making Hull the second UK zoo to exhibit a hippotamus.

The hippo was eventually shipped to North America.I believe "Bucheet" was the first hippo to reach America; he subsequently died in a Canadian circus in 1867.

And there is a statue commemorating "Bucheet" in Albany Street, Hull.
 
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