Bartlett Society Newletter

Dear All

Zoohistorica 2011 was excellent. Credit and thanks to Herman for the organisation and to the zoos of Leipzig & Halle for being great hosts. We were pleased to raise over a thousand Euros for their Sumatran rhinoceros conservation project - next year is Pilsen Zoo. Susan March MBE has been in touch with us. Despite their graded status the menagerie cages, already fragile due to age, are now under threat from a Tesco mega store. The land may be compulsory purchased and the development forced through by the local council. There will be a public inquiry and once more our advice is required. We need to write to Thanet District Council to confirm our opinion as to the unique historic value of these cages. The response does not need to be detailed as they have our previous submission. I have more information upon request. Any volunteers - more than one response can be sent. Dartmoor Wildlife Park. With the Ben Mees film due for release in the coming months we are already receiving requests regarding the history of the collection at Dartmoor. Thankfully one such communication has been from the founder - Ellis Bowen Daw - so we have a good information source. However we would be pleased to hear from anyone who has other material and or photographs they are willing to share. I hate copyright but we cannot escape that it is becoming an increasing consideration when publishing any research. A gentlemen has written to us concerning pictures of Mickey the Liverpool Zoo chimpanzee. He is researching an old story about this well known local character and would welcome any pictures. Some of the existing postcards have a newspaper connection. Has anyone got any independent material. Nigel George has been in touch with us. His family built and operated the Solent Butterfly House & Little Amazon. "Solent Butterfly House opened in 1983 and closed in 1986. Little Amazon opened in 1988 and closed in 1991. Both closed due to pressure from garden centre site closures and redevelopments."
He is ready and willing to answer any questions we may have and includes a link to some photos. http://www.flickr.com/photos/ecclestongeorge/395864840/in/set-72157594545287526
Quick plug for the Bartlett Society AGM - 29th October - 12.00 at The Edinburgh Castle, Mornington Terrace, Camden. Non members have no voting rights but would be made very welcome. The meeting is likely to be short with most attendees visiting London Zoo afterwards - only 5 minutes walk away.