United Kingdom Cardiff Zoological Gardens / Victoria Park Zoo (1900-1941)

[zoowhosewho]

Cardiff Zoological Gardens / Victoria Park Zoo , Cardiff ....(1900- 1941) In 1900 it was decided that a Zoological Gardens would be opened and in October 1900 the first building built was The Aviary . 2 Storks were installed in 1901 ... Then came along 2 Monkeys and the Zoo Animal collection began ... Further donations from Sea Captains (who used the busy Cardiff Port) such as Ostrich , Owls , antelope and Mongoose were made...In 1902 further discussions were had to formalise the Zoological Gardens ... In 1905 the then Assistant Superintendent of London Zoo , Mr Arthur Thompson, went to Victoria Park to help identify animals and advise on suitable living accommodation for them ... In 1906 the term Victoria Park Zoo was formally adopted ... by February 1908 there were 58 Birds and Mammals at the Zoo ..A new scheme for 27 "homes" was approved at a cost of £308 and the works were completed by 1909
By 1911 a qualified Zoo Attendant was appointed

Up to 1914 the Victoria Park Zoo was coming on really well ... but then war broke out ... and then in 1918 there was major flooding in Cardiff The Park and the Zoo was badly affected some Animals Drowned ... In 1927 another flood and more animals drowned ...By 1935 the Zoo was in a neglected condition ... In October / November 1941 the Zoo was disbanded as the land was required for food production ... It is believed although not recorded officially that the animals were transferred to Bristol Zoo

Some of the other animals in this collection were Monkeys , Birds , Raccoons , Coati , Polar Bear, Seal ( a statue to this is still in the park) , A Copincha ? (Argentinian Mammal) , Tortoises , Lizards , Foxes , Squirrel , Crocodiles , Armadillos and Porcupine (amongst others)

1st image 1905 The Aviary and 2nd image the Monkey House 3rd Image seal in the Zoo

 

[FBBird]

Cardiff Zoological Gardens / Victoria Park Zoo , Cardiff ....(1900- 1941) In 1900 it was decided that a Zoological Gardens would be opened and in October 1900 the first building built was The Aviary . 2 Storks were installed in 1901 ... Then came along 2 Monkeys and the Zoo Animal collection began ... Further donations from Sea Captains (who used the busy Cardiff Port) such as Ostrich , Owls , antelope and Mongoose were made...In 1902 further discussions were had to formalise the Zoological Gardens ... In 1905 the then Assistant Superintendent of London Zoo , Mr Arthur Thompson, went to Victoria Park to help identify animals and advise on suitable living accommodation for them ... In 1906 the term Victoria Park Zoo was formally adopted ... by February 1908 there were 58 Birds and Mammals at the Zoo ..A new scheme for 27 "homes" was approved at a cost of £308 and the works were completed by 1909
By 1911 a qualified Zoo Attendant was appointed

Up to 1914 the Victoria Park Zoo was coming on really well ... but then war broke out ... and then in 1918 there was major flooding in Cardiff The Park and the Zoo was badly affected some Animals Drowned ... In 1927 another flood and more animals drowned ...By 1935 the Zoo was in a neglected condition ... In October / November 1941 the Zoo was disbanded as the land was required for food production ... It is believed although not recorded officially that the animals were transferred to Bristol Zoo

Some of the other animals in this collection were Monkeys , Birds , Raccoons , Coati , Polar Bear, Seal ( a statue to this is still in the park) , A Copincha ? (Argentinian Mammal) , Tortoises , Lizards , Foxes , Squirrel , Crocodiles , Armadillos and Porcupine (amongst others)

1st image 1905 The Aviary and 2nd image the Monkey House 3rd Image seal in the Zoo

Pretty sure that seal is a Sealion.

 

[zoowhosewho]

Pretty sure that seal is a Sealion.

Sorry will change the Thread later

 

[Tetzoo Quizzer]

Having grown up in Cardiff, I was aware of the stories of Billy the Seal escaping during a flood and being found on the main road (I think). Yes, it was a sea lion, but was always referred to as “a seal”.

 

[Tetzoo Quizzer]

It gets more complicated! The preserved skeleton from the original Billy in the National Museum of Wales is from a (female) seal. There is now a statute of a Sealion to commemorate Billy (and the sealion statue on the castle wall was often said to be Billy, but this was an identity after the event). The flooding escape was not the original Billy, so might have been a later sealion, or indeed a seal.

 

[Smaggledagle]

Some of the other animals in this collection were Monkeys , Birds , Raccoons , Coati , Polar Bear, Seal ( a statue to this is still in the park) , A Copincha ?

I looked it up and a Copincha might be an anteater.