2nd June: London Zoo

On this date in 1937, London Zoo opened a children's zoo, the first of its kind. Here are ten things you might not know about London Zoo:

1. London Zoo was founded in 1828 by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, best known for founding Singapore, and the scientist Sir Humphrey Davy. It is the world's oldest scientific zoo and as such, may even have been the origin of the word "zoo". For its first 19 years, only scientists were allowed to visit the zoo, but in 1947 it was opened to the paying public to help funding.
2. The first animals to live in the zoo were the Arabian oryx, greater kudus, Orangutan, quagga and thylacine. The latter two animals are now extinct. Today, there are 756 species of animals, with 17,480 individuals.
3. The zoo nearly closed in 1991. It gets no government funding and is to this day dependent on entrance fees and donations. In the late 20th century, visitor numbers fell, because people's attitudes were changing towards the idea of keeping animals in zoos. However, an announcement in 1991 that the zoo would close had its supporters rallying round so it could not only stay open but refurbish and create a better environment for its residents.
4. Until 1902, most tropical animals were kept indoors because people thought they wouldn't survive in Britain's chilly weather. Dr Peter Chalmers Mitchell changed all that when he was appointed secretary of the Society. He set about a major reorganisation of the buildings and enclosures, bringing many animals out into the open, and most of them were fine.
5. The original grounds were designed by Decimus Burton, who is famous for working on the London Colosseum and Marble Arch.
6. There are several listed buildings in the grounds, including the old Penguin pool designed by architect Berthold Lubetkin, the old Casson Elephant house designed by Sir Hugh Casson - which has a roof depicting a herd of elephants drinking from a watering hole. The Giraffe house at the Zoo is the oldest zoo building in the world still used for its original purpose.
7. The traditional Phone box at Penguin Beach is Grade I listed.
8. During World War II, the animals were evacuated from London Zoo and moved to a safer site in Whipsnade Zoo. Only one animal died, a young giraffe which was frightened to death by the bombs.
9. London Zoo was the first wildlife attraction to open a reptile house in 1849; the first to open an aquarium in 1853, the first insect house in 1881, and the first children’s zoo in 1938. It was also the first zoo to lend an animal to another zoo to help with breeding. The animal in question was Caroline, an Arabian Oynx who went to Phoenix Zoo in Arizona for a bit of nookie in 1962.
10. Other famous animals to live here were Jumbo the elephant, whose name became the word for anything huge; Winnie the Canadian bear who was brought to the Zoo by a Canadian regiment on its way to France. Unlike most bears, Winnie was extremely tame and enjoyed being handled. Author Alan Alexander Milne, after visiting the Zoo with his son, Christopher Robin, named the bear in his books after her. Guy the Gorilla was a gentle giant who arrived at the zoo on bonfire night, hence his name. There is a statue of him at the entrance.