From Polar Bears to Pandas
– the History of Chester Zoo.

 

This exhibition was produced in conjunction with Chester Zoo Education Division. Using many previously unseen photographs from the zoo’s archive it looks at the development of Chester Zoo from its humble pre-war beginnings to the internationally important institution it is today. Here is a brief selection of photographs. The complete exhibition is available to see at Chester History & Heritage.

Oakfield House

Where it all began. George Mottershead bought Oakfield House in 1930 for £3,500. It was re-built in 1892 for Liverpool tea merchant Benjamin Chaffers Roberts. It was used as a military hospital during the First World War. The first animals were displayed in pens in the courtyard of the house.

George Mottershead.

Chester zoo founder George Mottershead.

Peter and Mowgli 

During the war years an unlikely friendship was struck up between a lion named Mowgli and a young terrier called Peter. The young lion was distressed after the death of his brother Valentino. Peter would visit him with his owner June Mottershead, but soon Peter used to make his own way over to Mowgli and the pair became inseparable.

Molly giving riders

Molly with her mahout Kay giving children rides in the late 1940’s.

With Gerald Iles, Belle Vue Zoological Gardens 1940's

 

Elephant ride 1948

Constructing polar bear enclosure.

George Mottershead was very resourceful when it came to building projects at the zoo. The polar bear enclosure, opened in 1950, was built using re-cycled World War II road blocks and pill boxes.

Chimp island.

Chimp island in the 1950’s.

Chimps.

In 1956 the chimpanzees were transferred to their new home with heated sleeping quarters and outdoor ‘islands’ separated from the public by a moat. Their health was much improved by their new surroundings and, again, this innovative way of keeping chimpanzees was copied by zoos around the world.

Sea lion

Sea lion pool built after the war to accommodate a pair of Californian sea lions, Sammy and Susie.

International zookeepers conference Sept 1963

October 1963 - 1st one million visitors to the zoo.

Bottle feeding chimp. 1960’s

Rhino arrival

The arrival of a black rhino in the 1960’s

Polar bear

The polar bear enclosure in 1966. Polar bears are no longer kept at the zoo because they are difficult to look after properly.

Keeper Michael Colbourne

with a lowland gorilla

Keeper Peter Wait

feeding baby African elephant Jubilee, who was born in 1977.

 

1978 Judy and Jubilee.

In 1977 the zoo was witness to the birth of Jubilee, the first African elephant to be successfully reared in captivity in the country.

Children at an exhibit

Nick Knowles.

Television presenter Nick Knowles officially opens ‘Realm of the Red Ape’ on June 30^th 2007.