Closed Zoos

Meaghan Edwards

Meaghan Edwards

Well-Known Member
The subject of closed zoos, aquariums and other animal attractions is another area of all things zoos that interests me. Their history, although often sad (such as the death of the elephant Ellie May on the last day of the Belle Vue Zoo's existence), fascinates me. As well as the history, I like seeing how far modern zoos has (often) progressed.

If you know of any, here's the thread for them :) I like to learn more about them, and help others learn as well.

Here's some that I've found info on:

Benson's Animal Farm, Hudson, New Hampshire. It was founded in 1924 and closed in 1987. It was known by several names during it's run. Benson Wild Animal Farm, Benson’s Animal Farm, Benson’s Wild Animal Farm, Benson’s Wild Animal Park, Benson’s Animal Park, The Strangest Farm on Earth and New England Playworld.
Bensons Animal Farm - Message Board

Belle Isle Aquarium, of Detroit, Michigan, was owned by the Belle Isle Zoo. Work is underway to revive it.
Welcome to the Friends of Belle Isle Aquarium
Flickr: Search

Riverdale Zoo was the original Toronto Zoo. Instead of the spacious enclosures that most species are given nowadays, the animals were given the typical antiquated enclosures which were common in the 1880's. It was shut down in 1974 when the modern Toronto Zoo was opened. Some years ago I took out a guide book of the Riverdale Zoo, it was a fascinating read. There is a farm now on its location, called the Riverdale Famr.
Riverdale Zoo and Farm
http://flickr.com/search/?q=riverdale+zoo&m=text

Belle Vue Zoo was an early English zoo, opened in 1837 and closed in 1977.
The Belle Vue Zoological Gardens

Glasgow Zoo in Scotland:
Flickr: Search
hiddenglasgow:: Zoos and Menageries were once popular in Glasgow
mrry - Photos - On Decline - Glasgow Zoo
 
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The Los Angeles Zoo was the fourth zoo in the city of Los Angeles. Before the LA zoo opened in 1966 there was the Griffith Park Zoo (1912-1966), Selig Zoo (1915-?) and the Eastlake Zoo (1885-?). At one point the city had two (Selig and Griffith Park) active zoos.

The Griffith Park zoo was never demolished, so people could go visit the Old zoo (as is now know) and see the old exhibits. The Old zoo is located about two miles from the Los Angeles Zoo. The Old zoo has also been used for many movies (e.g. Anchorman, Planet of the Apes).
 
In Belgium there was a zoo called 'Zwartberg'. It opened in may 1970. They closed in 1998 because of financial problems. They had elephants, lions, tigers, other animals (monkey's, reptiles...) and also a lot of bears: kodiak bear, sloth bears, sun bears, black bears, brown bears and polar bears. I was born in 1985 but I never heard of this zoo until a year ago so I think it was not a famous zoo although their animal collection seems nice!
 
there was a place down in florida on the disney property actually, called discovery island which maintained many species of birds, as well as reptiles and smaller species of primates but closed in 1999 after animal kingdom opened. It is interesting to know that the last of the dusky seaside sparrows ever died here in 1989 i believe
 
Discovery island also acted as a quarantine centre for animal kingdom whilst construction was being completed. Added to that, it provided the new attraction with several species from its collections eg. a flock of scarlet ibis. BTW, orange band, the last ever dusky seaside sparrow, died on June 18 1987.
 
Sydney had a zoo in Moore park, then it got closed down due to lack of space I believe and Taronga was opened in 1906. I don't know much details. If anyone could help I'd be very grateful.
 
Windsor Safari Park is probably Britain's most famous closed zoo (c. 1991), which is now Legoland Windsor; it contained two typical safari park sections, one for Baboons, Ostriches and hoofstock such as rhino, giraffe, zebra and camel, and a carnivore one for cheetahs, brown bears, tigers & lions. Then there was a reptile house, butterfly greenhouse (relocated to become Marwell's Tropical World after it closed), chimp island, parrot show, falconry show, hippo lake, children's farm, elephant enclosure, and of course Sea World. This complex housed penguins, sea lions, dolphins and even an orca called Winnie. These animals except the penguins performed in shows too.

WSP on Wikipedia
WSP Fansite
 
I'd agree with you, Zoogiraffe. Windsor certainly closed a lot more recently than Belle Vue and so stands out more in people's minds. But at the time, Belle Vue, was one of the most popular attractions in the north for well over 100 years. Windsor's existence spanned only about 25. I'd suggest that there are many more folk alive today that visited Belle Vue than Windsor.
 
I agree that Belle Vue Manchester would be the most famous ex Zoo in the UK . It is a great regret of mine that I never managed to visit it .
 
dragon(ele)nerd said:
Sydney had a zoo in Moore park, then it got closed down due to lack of space I believe and Taronga was opened in 1906. I don't know much details. If anyone could help I'd be very grateful.
Click to expand...

Taronga was opened in October 1916, although construction began in 1912. The animals from Moore Park (including an elephant) were transported across the harbour on a barge.

:)

Hix
 
oh thanks, yeah sorry my bad just remembered that 2006 was the year I went there, had 90 years celebration banners everywhere.
 
Africa USA (Boca Raton, FL)
Africa USA

Marineland of the Pacific (Palos Verdas Estates, CA)
Marineland of the Pacific
Rob's Theme Park Memories

Sea-Arama (Galveston, TX)
Remembering Sea-Arama Marineworld : Home Page

Lion Country Safari (Irvine, CA)
Yesterland Side Trip: Lion Country Safari in Irvine, California
Rob's Theme Park Memories

Busch Gardens (Van Nuys, CA)
Rob's Theme Park Memories

Warner Bros. Jungle Habitat (West Milford, NJ)
A look back at Jungle Habitat
Jungle Habitat - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Catskill Game Farm (Catskill, NY)
Catskill Game Farm - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Where the Animals Went: The End of the Catskill Game Farm: An All Creatures Animal Rights Article: justice, peace, love, compassion, ethics, organizations, Bible, God, Lord, Jesus, Christ, Holy Spirit, grass roots, animals, cruelty free, lifestyle, p
 
Canadian closings: my hometown of Edmonton, Alberta, has had 2 zoos close down in the past. Alberta Wildlife Park and Polar Park (originally known as Alberta Game Farm) have both been closed for years. Pentiction Game Farm in British Columbia also closed down about a decade ago.
 
Some former Dutch zoos:

The Hague Zoo (Koninklijke Zoologisch Botanisch Genootschap - Royal Zoological Botanical Society). Opened in 1863, and closed in 1942

From my own webpages:
Some history: DenHaag_geschiedenis_Eng
A map of 1874 and some photos: DenHaag_plattegrond_Eng
Some pictures of elephants: DenHaag_olifanten_Ned

Wassenaar Zoo. Opened in 1937, and closed in 1985

Some history: Wassenaar_geschiedenis_Eng
Map of 1985 and some photos: Wassenaar_plattegrond_Eng
The elephants: Wassenaar_olifanten-overzicht_Eng

Tilburg Zoo. Opened in 1932, and closed in 1973

Some history: Aktueel_Ned
The elephants: Aktueel_Ned

There are some more closed zoos in The Netherlands:
Vereeniging Dierentuin te Assen (Assen Zoo) 1878 - 1888
Zeister Dierenpark (Zeist Zoo) appr. 1932 - 1942
And perhaps some more, often very small zoos.
 
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