Some exhibits were just truly bizarre.
There was a reason bears or felines historically held the "longevity records" in zoo's, and it didn't have a lot to do with how they were cared for. In the photo above it looks like the cub was born, in an empty pool, and straw was thrown over the wall, or it was as close as they had to a whelping den.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
London Zoo--Regents Park
Posted by
Wade G. Burck
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3 comments:
Hey Wade! When I started work at London Zoo, (nearly 20 years ago now!) there were still some of the old timers around, and it has to be said that some of them were extremely skilled animal men, while others were quite the opposite! I think the main difference between then and now is exhibit design, with at least some effort at providing an area were an animal can do some of the behaviours it would perform in its natural range. Having said that, I still think many zoo exhibits fall well short in this department, and if you get dummies working with the stock it may as well be kept in a toilet. Have a look at this link for some more old London and Whipsnade pictures, the history cultures and traditions were among the reasons I so enjoyed my time there,sadly these too are almost gone.
http://www.zslprints.com/
Don,
You are absolutely spot on. I apologize if you took offense to the post. Experience will ace book learning a thousand times over. Any General who want's to win battles with take every Sargent Major he can find, and leave the scholars/West Pointers to mind the fort. It was not in anyway, shape, or form meant to denigrate zookeepers/animal men of old. There is not a person in the animal field over the age of 40 that does not reference places or books about the London zoo, Bronx, Philadelphia, Lincoln Park etc. as the reason for their passion. Look at all the photos I have posted of old vintage zoo keepers. I would bet without looking that I have collected twice as many of them, then animal trainers. I remember saving my money to buy a "tea cup/squirrel monkey" out of a comic book for 19.95 My wiser parents convinced me a donkey and two goats might be a better choice. I did buy a couple of shipment's of "sea monkeys" but they all died. LOL
I still have many of the old catalogs I ordered from Joe's Zooland and Fur Farm or Mountain Mike's Reptile Haven and Rock Museum. I knew if I had at least a raccoon or Kinkajou,( I would have settled for a Muskrat) I could get my zoo up an running.
There was such great value in those days. I was discussing this same subject with a zoo director here in Colones the other day. Why have today's zoo's, not been able to develop the passion for animal keeping that the institution's of old were able to develop?
Sawdust in your veins is a manageable addiction, Don. Animal feces in your veins has no cure known to man. Fact.
Wade
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