Polar Bear at Chessington Zoo c. 1970s

It is unknown whereabouts in the UK this photo was taken, but I think it was sometime in the 1970s. Does anyone recognise the enclosure?

I think it's at Chessington. The enclosure would have been rather too small for penguins!

Alan

Thank you for the information, Alan. The photo I have of the polar bear enclosure at Chessington in the late 1980s is quite different to this one. I presume they created a new enclosure at some point?

I don't know: I went to Chessington in 1972 and I haven't been back since. The photos that you have posted of the '80s pool look very different, but I don't know if it was a new pool or a revamp of the previous version.

Alan

Wherever it was, that wall looks way to short!!!

I have moved the photo to the Chessington gallery and renamed it.

it looks like the polar bear enclosure at belle-vue zoo but check Parallels H-Sphere first but thats what i think

I have just come across this link to a Francis Frith postcard, and I am now convinced the enclosure is at Chessington.

Photo of Chessington, Zoo, Polar Bear c1965

Yes it is 100% Chessington , the enclosure was redesigned and extended. Z

This enclosure originally ( c.1960s ) had a wrought iron barred frontage with curved spikes along that back wall. These were later removed by the time the photo was taken, the wall all the way round , but specifically at the front was indeed thought to be far too low , the male bear used to jump from the pool up the front wall to see how far he could get!! The enclosure was extended and redeveloped at least twice , viewing windows replaced the iron-work , later on those windows were extended along the left hand side to increase public viewing areas. After the last bears left in 1991 the whole thing was filled in and became an ornamental pond with a walk over bridge. The underview still remained but locked up. Then the underview area became the "Creepy Caves" reptile facility whilst the top was completely concreted over as a viewing / seating area. Z