I think this is Theodore, London zoo's first Black Rhino; when I find my copy of John Edwards' book 'London Zoo in Old Photographs', I'll put his dates on here; stop me if you have the book and know all this stuff already.
I think this is Theodore, London zoo's first Black Rhino; when I find my copy of John Edwards' book 'London Zoo in Old Photographs', I'll put his dates on here; stop me if you have the book and know all this stuff already.
London Zoo’s first black rhinoceros “Theodore” was purchased from Carl Hagenbeck in 1868; this rhino died in 1891.
I believe, though, that this postcard depicts a later black rhinoceros; I don’t think that the photographer credited, F. W. Bond (who was the zoo’s accountant and took many of the photos used in the zoo’s postcards) was taking photos in the zoo while the first black rhino was still alive.
This could be Theodora, Theodore's short-lived successor. I wonder if this old house might have been a better one for purpose than the Casson? It certainly had good outdoor bathing pools and achieved creditable longevities with Sumatran & Indian Rhinos, as well as Theodore.
Looks as though F.W.Bond lived from 1887 to 1942, so he was only four when Theodore died in 1891. As Theodora was at the Zoo from 1905 to 1911, this picture could be her.
