Glasgow Zoo facts for kids
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| Date opened | 1947 |
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| Date closed | 25 August 2003 |
| Location | Baillieston, Scotland |
| Land area | 99 acres (40 ha) |
| Coordinates | 55°50′20″N 4°06′29″W / 55.839°N 4.108°W |
| Annual visitors | 140,000 |
| Major exhibits | Lions, black bears, white rhinos, Capuchin monkeys |
Glasgow Zoo, also known as Calderpark Zoo, was a large animal park located in Baillieston, Glasgow, Scotland. It covered about 99 acres of land.
The zoo was started in 1947 by a group called the Zoological Society of Glasgow and West of Scotland. At its busiest, around 140,000 people visited the zoo each year. It was home to over 600 animals and had many staff members.
Glasgow Zoo closed its doors in August 2003. This happened because it faced big financial problems and could not meet new rules for looking after animals. In its final years, the zoo struggled with money and concerns about animal welfare.
Contents
The Zoo's Story
How the Zoo Began
The idea for the Glasgow Zoo started on December 15, 1936. A professor named Edward Hindle from Glasgow University helped create the Zoological Society of Glasgow. This group later changed its name to the Zoological Society of Glasgow and West of Scotland.
At first, they wanted to build the zoo in Bellahouston Park in 1938. But this plan didn't work out. So, they looked at other places. In late 1938, the Society found the Calderpark Estate. This large area was perfect for building a zoo with open spaces for animals. The Society bought the land in 1939.
The opening of the zoo was delayed until July 9, 1947, because of World War II. When they finally started building, they used old war materials. For example, some animal enclosures were made from concrete roadblocks. Bricks from old air raid shelters and metal from old battleships were also used.
When the zoo opened, many animals were given to it by other zoos. Dublin Zoo sent two lion cubs. London Zoo loaned, and then gave, two adult lions. Some people even brought their own exotic pets, like monkeys and parrots, to add to the zoo's collection. The most popular animals at the start were the lions and a rare white peacock.
The Zoo's Final Years
Over time, the zoo started to have money troubles. It also had to compete with bigger zoos like Edinburgh Zoo. To try and save itself, Glasgow Zoo tried to sell or rent out some of its land and animals. In 1999, it tried to sell land, but there were delays. In 2000, it even started renting out some animals to earn money. This caused some people to worry about the animals' well-being.
In 2002, some thieves broke into the zoo. They stole two non-poisonous snakes and damaged the tea room. A few months later, another break-in happened, and a parrot was stolen.
Why the Zoo Closed
Glasgow Zoo closed on August 25, 2003. It had planned to close later, but it shut down sooner. The main reasons for closing were big financial problems. The zoo also couldn't meet the new, higher standards for animal care.
Before the closure, staff from the zoo worked with animal welfare groups. They helped move the animals to other zoos or animal parks. Even though there was talk of reopening the zoo, the old site has remained empty and damaged since 2003. Many of the old buildings have been burned, broken down, or vandalized.
However, some animals like llamas, ostriches, and ponies were still seen on the site in 2005. It seemed that kind locals or former zoo staff were looking after them.
Amazing Animals and Plants
Glasgow Zoo was home to many different kinds of animals. They had mammals, birds, reptiles, and even farm animals.
Some of the most popular mammals were African lions, white rhinos, white-throated Capuchin monkeys, Asian black bears, and a polar bear named Winston.
The birds at the zoo included golden eagles, lorikeets, scarlet macaws, and Indian peacocks.
For reptiles, visitors could see different skinks, bearded lizards, and various snakes like boa constrictors. There were also tortoises, including giant Aldabran tortoises.
Glasgow Zoo also had a large area for farm animals. This included sheep, goats, geese, doves, large black pigs, ponies, and guinea pigs.
The zoo was also known for its beautiful plant life. It had a special wildlife garden with many natural habitats. These included scrub woodland with birch and ash trees, hedges, and even a section of traditional Scottish moorland. This garden was often used for teaching people about different plants.
Images for kids
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The housing project now placed on the Glasgow Zoo site.
