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Closed Zoos

Discussion in 'Zoo History' started by Meaghan Edwards, 23 Jul 2008.

  1. Meaghan Edwards

    Meaghan Edwards Well-Known Member

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    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
     
    Last edited: 23 Jul 2008
  2. mstickmanp

    mstickmanp Well-Known Member

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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).
     
  3. Newzooboy

    Newzooboy Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    Zoo History

    This may be of interest.

    Zoo History

    The Bartlett Society is active in the UK and US.:)
     
  4. Marc

    Marc Well-Known Member

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    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!
     
  5. Birdman7487

    Birdman7487 Well-Known Member

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    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
     
  6. redpanda

    redpanda Well-Known Member

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    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.
     
  7. Meaghan Edwards

    Meaghan Edwards Well-Known Member

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  8. KEEPER

    KEEPER Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    Location:
    Burjassot (Valencia province) Spain
    The old "Jardín zoológico de Valencia" (Zoological garden) Spain, was closed in August past year, it´s was a provisional zoo for more 42 years...the new zoo of Valencia city it´s Bioparc, at the end!

    See the gallery:
    http://www.zoochat.com/gallery/valencia-zoo/
     
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  9. dragon(ele)nerd

    dragon(ele)nerd Well-Known Member

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    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.
     
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  10. Zambar

    Zambar Well-Known Member 15+ year member 10+ year member 5+ year member

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    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
     
  11. zoogiraffe

    zoogiraffe Well-Known Member

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    Personnaly i would say Belle Vue Manchester was the U.K`s most famous Zoo that is now closed.
     
  12. Paradoxurus

    Paradoxurus Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    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.
     
  13. Pertinax

    Pertinax Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    And apart from Chester or London, it also had one of the most comprehensive animal collections in the UK too.
     
  14. Bele

    Bele Well-Known Member 15+ year member

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    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 .
     
  15. Hix

    Hix Wildlife Enthusiast and Lover of Islands 15+ year member Premium Member

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    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
     
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  16. dragon(ele)nerd

    dragon(ele)nerd Well-Known Member

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    oh thanks, yeah sorry my bad just remembered that 2006 was the year I went there, had 90 years celebration banners everywhere.
     
  17. okapikpr

    okapikpr Well-Known Member

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  18. snowleopard

    snowleopard Well-Known Member 15+ year member Premium Member

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    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.
     
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  19. UntBwe

    UntBwe Well-Known Member

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    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.
     
  20. Meaghan Edwards

    Meaghan Edwards Well-Known Member

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