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History of East London Zoo |
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In 1878 a local horticulturist – Mr JC Nelson, received the title deeds
for the land which soon became known as the Botanical Gardens. From
these humble beginnings the botanical gardens were officially opened in
February 1890 by the visiting Governor Sir Henry Loch. The gardens had
no official name and the Mayor asked the governor to suggest one, and so
the gardens became known as Queen's Park. At the ceremony Norfolk pines
and Silvertrees were presented by Mr Nelson (of the Cambridge
Nurseries), planted by Sir Henry and Lady Loch and Sir Gordon and Lady
Sprigg.
Queen's Park offered early settlers indigenous coastal bush
and scenic drives down the harbour as well as an ornamental lake (known
as the duck pond) and a small natural waterfall which only flowed after
heavy rains(now lost in the name of progression).
In 1936 it was decided to start the Queen's Park zoo. Inexperience in
those days lead to a tragic start with cold and damp concrete cages and
animals fed only on sweet potatoes. A committee was selected to advise
and monitor the situation and conditions began improving.
In 1973 when the threat of a new bypass road cutting right
through Queens Park arose, members of the local community disputed this
in order to protect the precious indigenous and exotic vegetation. An
alternative route was allocated and Queen's Park was declared a National
Monument.
To this day some of the most striking features of the zoo are
the mix of indigenous and exotic vegetation, and our relics of a bygone
era - the octagonal dovecote which used to be a bandstand on the beach
front, the fountain behind the chimpanzee enclosure donated by
magistrate GM Fleischer (when it was moved from Oxford street in 1894)
and three sets of wrought irons presented to EL by Sir Donald Curry, Mr
John Stroyn, and Mr James Georgeson, (of these two sets remain at the
Park Avenue entrance to Queens Park zoo and the other at Gately House
entrance).
The zoo has become a much loved asset of the city with
memorable characters such as Pollo the African grey parrot which became
the Zoo bouncer in 1988. Pollo could swear in English, Afrikaans and
Xhosa. The East London Zoological Gardens have continually upgraded with
projects such as Operation Wingspan (1995) which looked at upgrading the
birds of prey aviaries, in 1996 the bear enclosure was upgraded which
saw the concrete torn up to make way for trees and lawn and much needed
shade for mother and daughter duo Gina and Jenny.
In 2011 more extensive enhancements and upgrades are
scheduled for the bear enclosure.
There have been numerous baby animals born at the zoo
including a rare serval kitten in 1988 and 8 lion cubs in 2003, (born in
two litters in which one male and one female were white lion cubs),
thereafter subsequent litters of white lions.
In 1998 Round Table 1 proposed that the Smartie train, a
fundraising vehicle, be removed from Marina Glen where it had been from
the past 50 years, to the Zoo.
Also in the Zoo grounds is Gately House, built in 1876 this
single storey house with a 3-sided veranda was home to John Gately – an
Irish immigrant and successful businessman. Administered by the East
London Museum it is one of the only house museums left in the country
containing the original furniture.
Source: official web of
East London Zoo (2010)
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