Lions and monkeys captured on a trip to the African Continent have traveled a long way, but they will arrive “in New York at 8:00 am tomorrow morning en route to the Franklin Park Zoo” in Boston, Massachusetts. Their captor, thrill-seeker, Nelson Slater, a 21-year-old Harvard graduate has had a long-standing interest in the zoo, and he is donating them. He is proud to bring these splendid, full grown specimens alive, as they are usually killed.
Another new resident will be a black bear cub born in Oregon. The little four month old bruin had been doing tricks for the children with Eddie Foy, a comedian at the Palace Theatre in New York. However “he promises to be of enormous size when full grown.” The children bid the fuzzy entertainer farewell last night with sweetmeats, kisses and tears. Peter S. McNally, assistant curator of the zoo, “will bring the bear to Boston with the lions and tigers and will probably arrive there Tuesday.”
Thus the people of Boston learned the exciting news about the latest acquisitions to the two-year-old Franklin Park Zoo July 27, 1914. Less than a decade later it was reported that “three distinguished immigrants will come to Boston next week. A big lion, a lioness and a female leopard were picked by James Shea, the chairman of the Park Commission from the lot provided by an animal dealer in New York.”
The zoo is situated in Franklin Park, the last arboreal jewel added to Frederick Law Olmsted’s Emerald Necklace, an interconnected series of parkways stringing together: The Boston Public Garden; the Commons; Commonwealth Avenue; the Back Bay Fens; the Riverway; Olmsted Park; Jamaica Park; Arnold Arboretum and Franklin Park. Olmsted originally designed the 520 acres as a country park where visitors could enjoy natural scenery and participate in recreational activities. His layout of the paths and trees was completed in 1885 and the greenery was expected to literally grow into his final vision sixty years hence.
Olmsted’s original design also included a parcel of about 90 acres “near the borders of Seaver st [sic] to accommodate a zoological collection, a deer park, a music court, a “Little Folks’ Fair,” and a concourse or alameda called “the Greeting.” (December 14 1910 Boston Daily Globe) A shortage of funds prevented development and construction for several years. Thus other U.S. cities were able to flaunt their civic progress by opening zoos, which were very popular, ahead of Boston: Philadelphia in1874; Cincinnati in1875; Maryland (Baltimore Zoo) in1876; Providence in1872 and the Bronx in1899. The idea of a grand “zoological garden” in Boston was first announced in the press in March of 1888, and Franklin Park zoo finally came into existence in the summer of 1912.
It has always attracted international visitors to see animals from far and wide; however, the acquisition and function of its residents has changed dramatically over the years as scientists learned more about zoology and the global population has expressed its concerns about conservation and ecology.
In the late 19th and early 20th century the tradition of zoos, which had been established as early as1500 BC in Mesopotamia, were symbols of wealth and a display of biological imperialism; humans demonstrating their ability to lord themselves over all other species. Exotic lions and Gila monsters and the not so exotic Alaskan dogs and skunks arrived at the Franklin Park Zoo from the near and far reaches of the globe where they were caged or paraded for the purposes of enlightening and entertaining interested onlookers; there were minimal scientific studies of wild animals if any. The universal appeal of animals transcended the differences of religion, politics, geography, ethnic background or age that may have existed at that time and the zoo attracted everyone. In the Boston Daily Globe in 1913 after the zoo had been opened, it was written that “Until recently English was about the only language spoken in Franklin Park on Sunday. But now walking about the park and pausing to listen to the conversations of groups under the trees and animal cages, one may hear substantially every tongue in civilization.” (June 30, 1913 Boston Daily Globe)
Today in the 21st century, this international presence continues to be heard; residents, visitors and employees of the zoo alike speak many languages. A genuine regard for the animals and advancements in how to care for them has eliminated the too-small cages of captivity and replaced them with eco-friendly habitats. While the Franklin Park Zoo still plays a large role in entertainment, including a merry-go-round and a role in education, it now serves a grander purpose, the study and preservation of animals. These have come about as a result of advancements in zoology and ecology. Only when very specific needs present themselves are any animals “wild-caught” anymore; a full 90% are born in captivity. “The acquisition process has changed phenomenally,” and other changes have come about as a result of “recognizing the fact that the former practices were fleecing the environment and counter productive to what we do,” explained zoologist John Piazza, Franklin Park’s, Mammal Curator.
Mr. Piazza went on to address the issue of keeping zoos, a place which some people would like to see abolished. He asked and answered two questions. “Why shouldn’t we have that animal? Why should we have that one?” To answer the former he used the case of the elephants, and he indicated that they are programmed to wander across vast distances in any given day, perhaps 50 miles. That is a difficult habitat to reproduce. And to the latter, Mr. Piazza brought up endangered species and the fact that zoos are not just collections of animals but living genetic repositories for species which may one day not be found in the wild anymore. Though he did add “I wouldn’t feel comfortable knowing the last pygmy hypo was in the zoo.” At the San Diego Zoo, there is a veritable cryogenic Noah’s Arch of cryonically preserved genetic animal material to protect the gene pool of endangered species or even revive one. This cast a different light on the importance of keeping a zoo.
The Franklin Park Zoo is a medium size zoo with a giant size heart, a place where every effort is made to simulate the natural habitats of the animals and to see to their needs. They are treated with the utmost kindness and care. For example, each gorilla has his/her own personal vet and assistant with whom s/he interacts everyday. And each animal is personified with first names; there are so many: the gorillas: Vip, Kiki, Kit, Kimani, Kira, Okie, and Little Joe; Chris, the lone lion; the Giraffe Family: Beau, Jana and their brand new baby bron July 23, 2009. (A contest for a name is being held. See the zoo webpage for details.) As there were in the beginning there are both “exotic and not so exotic,” and there are also the French Poitou Donkeys Samuel and Balthazar; and prairie dogs and many many more. Franklin Park while living in their new Outback Trail, Tropical Forest Pavilion Crossing, Kalahari Crossing or Giraffe Savannah. One can walk all day or ride by in the comfort of a little red train. Zoo lives up to Zoo New England's mission “to inspire people to protect and sustain the natural world for future,” hopefully it will survive to do so.
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