ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF THE ZOO

Evening Star, Issue 19275, 14 June 1926, Page 3

ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF THE ZOO

*' THE HOAH'S ARK SOCIETY " EARLY DAYS. Tho members of the Zoological Society of London have been celebrating the centenary of the foundation of fi,r,.; r -'rn-rmisation. which was brought into being on April 29, 1820, and they p.. . .. co looit hack upon wonderful achievements during a hundred years in the two distinct hut equally arduous tasks of compiling a. zoological collection and catering for tho sight-see-ing public.

The measure of success which has attended the labors of the century is reflected in the figures showing increase in specimens, income, ami attendances. 'When the Gardens were first open the exhibits numbered only 200; to-day the animals total 5,191. In 1827 the society’s income was £4,070; in this year’s accounts the corresponding entry gives the fine aggregate of £122,840. In 1829, the first full year in which the Gardens were open to the public, 1,1,994 persons were admitted; this is only a little more than double the average attendance for one day in 1925, when an aggregate of 1,823,011 persons passed the turnstiles. To whom shall bo assigned the credit of originating this “ Noah’s Ark Society,” as it was termed contemptuously at the time of its inception? Probably to no one man, for the inauguration of such an organisation had several advocates; hut the title of Father of the Zoo may he shared by Bir Stamford Paffles, the first president, and Sir Humphry Davy, with the balance slight!}' in favor of Sir Sta m ford.

For some years prior to IS2G the founding of the society had been under consideration, and a detailed prospectus was circulated among those interested as early as 1824. In February, 1826, at a meeting at which Sir S. Baffles took the chair, it was resolved that application should bo made to the Government for the grant of a piece of ground in Begont’s Park, ami finally, on April 29 of that year, the society was launched at the first general meeting held at the house of the Horticultural Society, in Begcnt street. A resolution was carried that a Zoological Society be instituted “ for the advancement of zoological knowledge; that mo attention of the society be directed to the following objects:— The formation of a collection of living animals, a museum of preserved animals, with a collection of comparative anatomy, and a library connected with the subject.” In May of 1826 the first vice-presi-dents were appointed, and a month later offices were taken at 11 Bruton street. Here for some years the society’s museum was housed, and until the Gardens were opened sonic of the first animals were kept.

The opening of the grounds did not take place until two years later. As lias been .stated, the exhibits then numbered about 200. They included two beautiful llamas, a leopard, kangaroo, and a Russian bear. Actually the first animals which came into the possession of the society wore a griffin vulture and a white-hooded eagle, presented by Mr Joshua. Brookes, of the celebrated anatomical school in Blenheim street, and a female doer from India, the gift of Captain Pear!. The vulture was known to the older keepers as “Dr Brookes,” and must have lived in the menagerie for nearly forty vears. In 1831 the King presented to the Zoo the Royal collection in the ancient menagerie at the Tower ol London. Jn the earlier years the attendance of the public at Regent’s Park was tolerated rather than welcomed. Soon after the Whitsuntide of 1847 iho present system of admitting visiti"s on payment was introduced.