![]() ![]() Together with the establishment of species specific group composition Basel Zoo became renowned worldwide for its breeding successes.Īn important role in the zoo’s modern animal husbandry played the new predator house. Had Heini Hediger introduced modern husbandry based on a biological way of thinking when he became Zoo director in 1944, his successor, the veterinarian Ernst Lang revolutionised the animal nourishment based on state of the art scientific knowledge. Basel was also the first zoo with a breeding pair of gorillas, which delivered Goma - Europe’s first zoo-born gorilla on 23 September 1959 (see also History of Goma). These two animals, Gadadhar and Joymothi, were the ancestors of the famous Basel rhinoceros breeding successes, with the world’s first zoo-born in 1956. In 1951 the first rhinoceros arrived, a male, who was provided female companionship only a year later. Immediately after the war ended the zoo acquired new animals and extended the park with a second entrance and a large meadow for the giraffes. Nevertheless, the gap that still existed in the zoo’s livestock situation was filled when in 1942 at christmas a small aquarium was opened. ![]() Both were a severe setback to the number of animals in the garden. The first was an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, and the second was WWII. Additionally there was a steady increase of animal species until two catastrophes hit the zoo. Several changes were made in this period, while modernising the zoo. This commenced in 1921 with the construction of the marmot rock and the popular sea lion basin by the well-known sculptor Urs Eggenschwyler. And it was time to implement his ideas by showing animals in open enclosures without fences. In the meantime a new standard on zoo design was created by Carl Hagenbeck. Shortly after the end of World War I the association for the promotion of the zoological garden, today the Friends of the Zoo of Basel, was founded to financially support the zoo. Due to WWI elephants had become a rarity in Europe, so in 1919 it was decided that a new elephant, miss Jenny, was purchased from circus Krone. Unfortunately, in 1917 miss Kumbuk the Asian elephant died. And in 1912 two male giraffes were bought. In 1910 the antelope house was erected and still exist to date. Until today this is celebrated with a special day during which visitors are admitted free of charge. In 1901 a generous gift of Basel citizen Johannes Beck initiated the establishment of the Johannes Beck foundation, and provided a solid financial basis for the zoo. The first pair of lions arrived in 1890, and already in 1891 the first lion cubs were born. And in 1886 a young Asian elephant, miss Kumbuk, was imported, which soon became well-known in Basel. Several donations made it possible to acquire the first exotic animals. These kind of exhibitions were popular with the public until the first part of the 20 th century. In 1884 a first enlargement was achieved and exotic people together with their exotic animals were exhibited. But, because of the high mortality of the animals and the request of visitors to enjoy more exotic animals, they soon had to reconsider the set-up of the zoological garden. Especially the predator species got a lot of attention. Only animals native to the local geographical region at display, such as waders and waterfowls, owls, wild boar, deer, wolf, lynx, badger, marten, fox and wildcat. ![]() When Basel zoo opened its gates to the public, on 18 July 1874, there were 94 mammals (of 35 species) and 416 birds (of 83 species) to see on 4. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |