Oldest zoo exhibit
- Thread starter zooman
- Start date
tigertiger
Well-Known Member
I'm thinking, in the US at least, that Philly Zoo & Cincinnati ZOo (particularly the current reptile house) might be contenders.
Edinburgh's sea lion pool? Currently only with a remaining male who is being phased out, but it's held sea lions since it was built around 100 years ago I believe?
Zooplantman
Well-Known Member
Cincinnati's Reptile House may well be the oldest zoo building in the US, but it hasn't been used for its original purpose in decades. So "B" only
Little of Philadelphia is original.
The Armory Building beside NYC's Central Park Zoo is still older (it was winter holding for the Central Park Zoo collection in the 1860s) but is certainly no longer used for that purpose.
And in any case, there will no doubt be European exhibits that pre-date these.
IanRRobinson
Well-Known Member
London's Giraffe House dates from 1836, eight years after the Zoo opened. The first captive-bred giraffe was born there in 1839. Apart from a gap between 1892 and 1895, it has housed giraffes ever since.
Thanks for the history Ian. I had no idea that this exhibit went so far back.
What happened between 1892 and 1895 to make the zoo giraffeless?
Re: oldest exhibits in the U.S. in continuous use would the 1904 bird cage at St. Louis that was left over from the world's fair and started the zoo be a contender? It is still in use. Similarly the 1923 Scripp's Aviary at the San Diego Zoo is still in use...this would be my guess as the oldest continuing exhibit on the West Coast (someone please chime in if there is something older).
Bristol's Victorian Elephant/Giraffe House-now considerably altered/ modified to house Gorillas and Okapis, but its still the same building. Don't know its date but someone will.
IanRRobinson
Well-Known Member
The traditional source of London's giraffes had been Sudan (so presumably Nubian); with the Mahdi's rebellion against the British and their client state Egypt in 1885, Sudan became impossible to access. The next RP giraffe came from South Africa in 1895 (and thus presumably Southern) .
I believe that this building dates from 1873.
This information is from the Guidebook "La menagerie du jardin des plantes" which i bought in Paris at the menagerie.
The Menagerie was founded by George Cuvier in 1794.
Rotunda - built from 1804 to 1812. Held large mammals like elephants, hippos and giraffes. Renovated.Now holds waterfowl, cranes and in the summer. giant tortoises.
Bear pits - built in 1805. Renovated now holds red pandas and binturongs.
Hoofed stock area built in 1880. Still holds hoofed stock in outdoor pens.
Pheasant cages built in 1825. Still holds pheasants and peacocks.
Grand aviary flight cage built in 1888. Still holds african birds.
Reptile house built in 1870. Still holds reptiles.
Feline house built in 1821, but extensively renovated in 1937. Holds 3 species, snow leopards, north china leopard and clouded leopards.
Primate house built in 1837, renovated in 1934. Still houses monkeys and orangutans.
Check out the pictures on the gallery.
The Menagerie was founded by George Cuvier in 1794.
Rotunda - built from 1804 to 1812. Held large mammals like elephants, hippos and giraffes. Renovated.Now holds waterfowl, cranes and in the summer. giant tortoises.
Bear pits - built in 1805. Renovated now holds red pandas and binturongs.
Hoofed stock area built in 1880. Still holds hoofed stock in outdoor pens.
Pheasant cages built in 1825. Still holds pheasants and peacocks.
Grand aviary flight cage built in 1888. Still holds african birds.
Reptile house built in 1870. Still holds reptiles.
Feline house built in 1821, but extensively renovated in 1937. Holds 3 species, snow leopards, north china leopard and clouded leopards.
Primate house built in 1837, renovated in 1934. Still houses monkeys and orangutans.
Check out the pictures on the gallery.
Having checked, the circular set of paddocks that are still the centrepiece of Vienna Zoo were laid out when it was founded - in 1752. Most are still in use, though often heavily modified.
sealion
Well-Known Member
did the female die? Saw them both over the summer, it's not a very inspiring exhibit!
One female died in the early months of this year, and the other in September or thereabouts, so far as I recall. Both were a fair age, mind you - the male, however, is still pretty young.