United Kingdom wolves and bears - ZSL

[Dommy]

Can anyone tell me whether there were any wolves (Canis Lupus), and Black (Ursus Americanus) or Brown (Ursus Arctos) bears at the zoo in 1947 and 1948? I'm researching a book - it's fiction, but I don't want to get caught out...

 

[Fallax]

Can anyone tell me whether there were any wolves (Canis Lupus), and Black (Ursus Americanus) or Brown (Ursus Arctos) bears at the zoo in 1947 and 1948? I'm researching a book - it's fiction, but I don't want to get caught out...

It would help if you mentioned what zoo you are talking about...

 

[Dommy]

It would help if you mentioned what zoo you are talking about...

London Zoo Regents Park, or Whipsnade if not London Zoo itself.

My mistake- logged in via ZSL site and assumed the chat related to that site.

 

[DDcorvus]

London Zoo acquired Kodiak bears in 1946 which were kept until the 50s/60s so yes there were brown bears at the zoo. But there are people on the forum with a lot more knowledge of ZSL who could help with the other 2 species.

 

[Strathmorezoo]

London Zoo acquired Kodiak bears in 1946 which were kept until the 50s/60s so yes there were brown bears at the zoo. But there are people on the forum with a lot more knowledge of ZSL who could help with the other 2 species.

Definitely saw Kodiak bears mid 1960s at Whipsnade

 

[ilovetimberdoodles]

London zoo had bears between 1914 and 1985 and had wolves until around the 90s so its likely that they had wolves or bears around that time but due to the time in history they may have not due to damage and renovation

 

[Kalaw]

Can anyone tell me whether there were any wolves (Canis Lupus), and Black (Ursus Americanus) or Brown (Ursus Arctos) bears at the zoo in 1947 and 1948? I'm researching a book - it's fiction, but I don't want to get caught out...

According to Zootierliste (which while not entirely accurate is generally somewhat reliable for this), the following bear and wolf species were present at London and Whipsnade between 1947 and 1948.

London Zoo:
Giant Panda
Indian Sloth Bear
Kodiak Bear
Polar Bear

Whipsnade Zoo:
European Brown Bear
Kodiak Bear*
Polar Bear

Eurasian Grey Wolf

*ZTL does not show the exact dates, but seeing as there was a birth shortly after the time frame in question it is probable that they were present during this time. The same applies for the Polar Bears, but Gerald Durrell's writings from 1945 mention them at Whipsnade, so I suspect they were present.

This list is possibly not complete, as I believe London also had wolves at that time, but could be mistaken. Hope this helps.

 

[Tim May]

Checking the Zoological Society of London Annual Report for 1947

• three brown bears were born at London Zoo
• five brown bears were born at Whipsnade
• four wolves were born at Whipsnade.

Similarly, checking the ZSL Annual Report for 1948

• one Syrian brown bear was donated to London Zoo
• three Syrian brown bear x brown bear hybrids were born at London Zoo
• four brown bears were born at Whipsnade
• six common x timber wolf hybrids were born at Whipsnade

 

[Tim May]

London Zoo acquired Kodiak bears in 1946 which were kept until the 50s/60s so yes there were brown bears at the zoo.

Imdeed, London Zoo acquired a pair of Kodiak bears on 25th June 1946; they were presented by Alfred Ezra, the well-known aviculturist. These two Kodiak bears were soon sent to Whipsnade, so the zoo didn't have Kodiak bears continuously from 1946 until the 50s/60s.

The Kodiak bears that I remember seeing at London Zoo in the late 1950s / early 1960s, housed in the old Lubetkin Gorilla House, were born at Whipsnade in January 1954.

Kodiak bears were kept at Whipsnade until 1985.