Great to find this community (and ZootierListe) I love Zoos, and Zoo History. I've been obsessed since I was a child, (thanks to Paignton and DWP). I used to borrow the London Zoo Architecture book from the library for months at a time. (Eventually I bought myself a copy) I do collect some ephemera, mainly pre- WW2 postcards. My current home Zoo is London, but fond memories of Al Ain, Sharjah, Paignton and Dartmoor Zoo (then known as Sparkwell Wildlife Park) I've only managed to make a small dent into Continental Zoos so far. Alas, I am not a Zookeeper or Zoo Vet as younger me would have liked, but aspiring natural history curator seems a fair compromise. (Animals! Taxonomy! lots of places worldwide to indulge my obsession!) Luckily other-half doesn't mind being dragged around Zoos (and Museums) and even suggested a trip to the Zoo for Valentine's Day.
Great to have a new member join who - like myself - has an interest in zoo history, taxonomy and small carnivores I've also only visited a small number of continental collections myself - I am in the process of writing about my experiences in Berlin and surrounding cities in this thread: http://www.zoochat.com/109/german-adventures-tea-loving-dave-april-358566/ As such, don't be daunted by the fact you have not made much of a dent in continental collections!
Great reports Dave, looking forward to more. I've been totting up and I actually seem to have been to as many German Zoos as British, however I was very young when I want to some of them so barely remember a thing. (except the Penguins at Edinburgh) I need to go back to Zoo Berlin and see all those marvellous small carnivores.
Welcome to ZooChat from someone who has never set foot outside the United Kingdom (and within it has spent only 3 to 4 hours off the island of Great Britain).
Thanks for the welcome, seems a friendly place. Hopefully there will be some UK meet ups. Which is your No. 1 Dutch zoo Vogelcommando?
