The zoological gardens of Europe, their history and chief featuresPeel, C. V. A. (Charles Victor Alexander)
History
The zoological gardens of Europe, their history and chief features
Peel, C. V. A. (Charles Victor Alexander)
Zoos
This Zoological Garden is the third oldest in Europe, and the oldest
of all the German Gardens. The credit of its foundation belongs to the
well-known Berlin zoologist and African traveller Lichtenstein, who
could hardly have realized his intentions had not the Prussian Royal
House given its favour to this public-spirited undertaking. Not only
is this shown by the opening mandate issued by Frederick William IV.
on May 7, 1845, but by the presentation of the royal pheasantry to
the Company of the Zoological Garden. At the same time the Emperor
made a grant of £3,000 to the society, which was increased by £2,000.
The greater part of the Emperor’s own animals and birds were also
transferred to the Zoological Garden.
On August 1, 1844, the Garden was opened. For the first twenty-five
years of its existence the arrangements were particularly modest. In
March, 1846, there were not 100 kinds of animals in the Garden, and
there were only half a dozen houses. In 1868 only 191 shares of £15
were taken up by the public. Owing to the then great distance from the
town, the Garden progressed but slowly for a long time. In 1848 the
income was only £900, and these first twenty-five years must count as
the infancy of the Garden.
The second division of the Gardens development begins with the year
1869. Professor Peter, the successor of Dr. Lichtenstein, undertook,
with the then Minister of Finance, Von der Heydt, to reconstruct the
Company. A thousand new shares were issued in exchange for old ones.
Estimates for the plans of large buildings were drawn up, and the
direction was altered in a conspicuous manner, Doctor Bodinus, who came
from Cologne, being placed regularly in charge of it. Imposing and
artistic buildings were erected, and the lion house was altered so as
to look like an African house.
In 1869 the restaurant was opened.
In 1870 a new lion house and bear pit were built; in 1872 an antelope
house; in 1873 an elephant house; in 1874-75 a great concert-house; in
1883 a new monkey house was erected.
At the same time the Garden rose to the highest place in public favour,
owing to its public concerts, which, until 1884, were held three times
a week under the direction of Herr Wieprecht. In 1884 electric light
was introduced. Daily double concerts were instituted at half-price,
and brought a great number of people to the Garden. In 1900 the
entrance money taken amounted to £27,321, and the season-tickets
brought in £5,849. In 1884 Director Bodinus died. Dr. Max Schmidt was
named as his successor, he having for twenty-five years looked after
the Zoological Garden at Frankfort-on-Main. In 1888, however, he died,
and Dr. Ludwig Heck, who came from the Zoological Garden at Cologne,
was chosen as Director. In his first year he devoted his attention to
increasing the stock of animals, with the result that now 25,000 living
creatures are to be seen, including 12,000 species of animals and birds.
[Illustration: LLAMA AND MOUFFLON ROCKERY, BERLIN.]
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