Johnny Morris.
Well-Known Member
This was my local zoo when i was a lad, although i only ever visited it once. Anyone have any memories of the place? It must have closed down in the late seventies.
Whitson Zoo.
- Thread starter Johnny Morris.
- Start date
I don't have memories, but have "visited" the outside area lol. Lots of old cages and that. I spoke to the guy who's nan owned it and I got this:
"The owner was given two hymylain mountain bear cubs which had been used as an advertising gimick for the newport shop Reynolds. At the time, groups of Newport children used the grounds for Sunday school picknicks and fates and my grandmother felt that the bears would be a novelty for them! The collection continued to grow over the years and included a large range of different animals including a further 2 sun bears (basil and barbara), a lion (jason) and 3 lionesses, a large range of exotic birds including flamingoes, and a flight of wild macaws, monkeys and animals, a huge aquariam and reptile house and as a result became a popular tourist attraction for people all over the area.
In the early 80s, with the change in the licencing and as a result in the way the nation was welcoming safari parks like longleat, it was decided to close the zoo to the public and allow the animals to live out their lives in peace. The female sun bear went i believe to the state zoo in poland following the death of her partner, to join another male.
Jason the lion went to longleat and then to the chipperfields, and the hymalain bears, one of which was born at whitson, lived into the early 90s until, they were put to sleep due to old age and declining health."
I wish it was still there so I didn't have to travel to Bristol all the damned time!
Does anyone have any photos?
"The owner was given two hymylain mountain bear cubs which had been used as an advertising gimick for the newport shop Reynolds. At the time, groups of Newport children used the grounds for Sunday school picknicks and fates and my grandmother felt that the bears would be a novelty for them! The collection continued to grow over the years and included a large range of different animals including a further 2 sun bears (basil and barbara), a lion (jason) and 3 lionesses, a large range of exotic birds including flamingoes, and a flight of wild macaws, monkeys and animals, a huge aquariam and reptile house and as a result became a popular tourist attraction for people all over the area.
In the early 80s, with the change in the licencing and as a result in the way the nation was welcoming safari parks like longleat, it was decided to close the zoo to the public and allow the animals to live out their lives in peace. The female sun bear went i believe to the state zoo in poland following the death of her partner, to join another male.
Jason the lion went to longleat and then to the chipperfields, and the hymalain bears, one of which was born at whitson, lived into the early 90s until, they were put to sleep due to old age and declining health."
I wish it was still there so I didn't have to travel to Bristol all the damned time!
Does anyone have any photos?
Johnny Morris.
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the reply Ashley
I too wish it was still there. There isn't really much around this area.
I too wish it was still there. There isn't really much around this area.