The wonderful old zoo at Frankfurt, planned in 1859 was another casualty of bombing and was
destroyed in a single night on March 18, 1944. All buildings except the bear castle were bombed to
the cellar. High-explosive bombs smashed the seal pools, the aquarium and the office housing all of
the historic archives. In the burning carnivore house, the cats had to be shot, as did an Elephant who
had been directly hit by an incendiary bomb. Evacuated wisents were killed later when their new
home at the Heidelberg Zoo was bombed at the tail end of the war in March 1945. Most surviving
animals starved or died of cold later. At the Wuppertal Zoo, it was also a bitter time. Many animals
were shot because there was no food for them, and the enclosures were destroyed by bombs. Only
20 animals were alive in the zoo at the end of the war.
destroyed in a single night on March 18, 1944. All buildings except the bear castle were bombed to
the cellar. High-explosive bombs smashed the seal pools, the aquarium and the office housing all of
the historic archives. In the burning carnivore house, the cats had to be shot, as did an Elephant who
had been directly hit by an incendiary bomb. Evacuated wisents were killed later when their new
home at the Heidelberg Zoo was bombed at the tail end of the war in March 1945. Most surviving
animals starved or died of cold later. At the Wuppertal Zoo, it was also a bitter time. Many animals
were shot because there was no food for them, and the enclosures were destroyed by bombs. Only
20 animals were alive in the zoo at the end of the war.
The very first bomb that the Allies dropped on Berlin in World War Two killed the only elephant left
in the beautiful, world famous Berlin Zoo. On November 26-27, 1943, British Blockbuster bombs
freed a number of wild animals from Berlin's zoo and several large and potentially dangerous animals:
leopards, panthers, jaguars and apes, escaped. When the animals got loose, they were frantic.
in the beautiful, world famous Berlin Zoo. On November 26-27, 1943, British Blockbuster bombs
freed a number of wild animals from Berlin's zoo and several large and potentially dangerous animals:
leopards, panthers, jaguars and apes, escaped. When the animals got loose, they were frantic.
| All Creatures Innocent of Blame |
"The elephants gave spine-chilling screams. Their house was still standing but an explosive bomb of
terrific force had landed behind it, lifted the dome of the house, turned it round, and put it back on
again...The baby cow elephant was lying in the moat on her back with her legs helplessly reaching up
toward the sky, suffering severe stomach injuries unable to move. The hippopotamuses were
drowned when debris pinned them to the bottom of their water basin. In the ape house, a gibbon
reached out to the trainer, only bloody stumps left of its arms. Nearly forty rhesus monkeys escaped
to the trees but were dead by the next day from drinking water polluted by the incendiary chemicals.
The next day, a U.S. aircraft pilot flew in low, firing at anything he could see was still alive." "In this
way, our last giraffe met her death. Many stags and others animals which we had saved became
victims of this hero."
terrific force had landed behind it, lifted the dome of the house, turned it round, and put it back on
again...The baby cow elephant was lying in the moat on her back with her legs helplessly reaching up
toward the sky, suffering severe stomach injuries unable to move. The hippopotamuses were
drowned when debris pinned them to the bottom of their water basin. In the ape house, a gibbon
reached out to the trainer, only bloody stumps left of its arms. Nearly forty rhesus monkeys escaped
to the trees but were dead by the next day from drinking water polluted by the incendiary chemicals.
The next day, a U.S. aircraft pilot flew in low, firing at anything he could see was still alive." "In this
way, our last giraffe met her death. Many stags and others animals which we had saved became
victims of this hero."
The First World War had also been difficult in Germany as well, and the hunger blockades inflicted
by Britain brought most German zoos to the verge of bankruptcy. Most of the Hamburg Zoo's
monkeys, for example, starved to death by the war's end, as did most animals dependent on either
fresh fish or exotic fruits. Two chimpanzees survived the war, only to be lost to the influenza
epidemic at the end of the war. Several zoo animals were eaten by a starving civilian population.
by Britain brought most German zoos to the verge of bankruptcy. Most of the Hamburg Zoo's
monkeys, for example, starved to death by the war's end, as did most animals dependent on either
fresh fish or exotic fruits. Two chimpanzees survived the war, only to be lost to the influenza
epidemic at the end of the war. Several zoo animals were eaten by a starving civilian population.
The oldest public Zoo in the world is at the Tiergarten Schönbrunn in Vienna. Even before 1570,
there was a wild park in Vienna, and during the reign of Maria Theresia, the Menagerie Schönbrunn
was improved substantially, eventually opening to the public, to "decently dressed persons." In 1778,
the menagerie, castle and the park, opened initially on Sundays only. Under Emperor Franz II/I,
Schönbrunn received its first giraffe as a gift from the Viceroy of Egypt in 1828.
there was a wild park in Vienna, and during the reign of Maria Theresia, the Menagerie Schönbrunn
was improved substantially, eventually opening to the public, to "decently dressed persons." In 1778,
the menagerie, castle and the park, opened initially on Sundays only. Under Emperor Franz II/I,
Schönbrunn received its first giraffe as a gift from the Viceroy of Egypt in 1828.
The bombing toll on domestic pets and farm animals is never spoken of, but it was a slaughter of
momentous proportion. Horses burned alive at various stud farms, cattle were blown into pieces,
sheep literally cooked in the fields and thousands of pets were lost, lamed, blinded, orphaned and
even eaten out of desperation. Whole species of birds and butterflies vanished. For zoos it was
hellish. Famous animal trainer, Otto Sailer-Jackson ran the Dresden Zoo watched in horror as a wave
of bombing set the zoo ablaze.
momentous proportion. Horses burned alive at various stud farms, cattle were blown into pieces,
sheep literally cooked in the fields and thousands of pets were lost, lamed, blinded, orphaned and
even eaten out of desperation. Whole species of birds and butterflies vanished. For zoos it was
hellish. Famous animal trainer, Otto Sailer-Jackson ran the Dresden Zoo watched in horror as a wave
of bombing set the zoo ablaze.
The zoo in Munich was likewise attacked and nearly destroyed. Adji, the first African elephant born
in the Munich zoo, died under American bombing in the year 1943 along with several other animals.
The Hamm zoo was another victim in 1944. On November 2, 1944, the Düsseldorf zoo, damaged
during previous attacks, was left with hardly a wall standing and over 200 bomb craters.
in the Munich zoo, died under American bombing in the year 1943 along with several other animals.
The Hamm zoo was another victim in 1944. On November 2, 1944, the Düsseldorf zoo, damaged
during previous attacks, was left with hardly a wall standing and over 200 bomb craters.
In hellish scenes, Monkeys were trapped in burning treetops, stunned lions ambled through parks,
and large snakes slithered through the crowds of desperate people fleeing fires and bombs. The
animals had to be hunted and shot in the streets during and after the bombing raids in the midst of
this Armageddon. The elephant in his open pen at the Berlin Zoo paced back and fourth trumpeting
its impending doom even before the bombing raids began. Out of 3,715 animals representing 1,400
species living at the grand old Berlin Zoo, only 91 animals remained alive by war's end.
and large snakes slithered through the crowds of desperate people fleeing fires and bombs. The
animals had to be hunted and shot in the streets during and after the bombing raids in the midst of
this Armageddon. The elephant in his open pen at the Berlin Zoo paced back and fourth trumpeting
its impending doom even before the bombing raids began. Out of 3,715 animals representing 1,400
species living at the grand old Berlin Zoo, only 91 animals remained alive by war's end.
World War I food shortages had reduced the zoo population 85% to only 400 animals, but with hard
work, the zoo was brought back to life. Then, seven weeks before the end of World War II, 300
bombs hit the zoo and Castle Park, 200 of them in animal enclosures, murdering many animals,
included a beloved rhino bull who used to allowed his keeper to ride on his back. Tiergarten
Schönbrunn was hit by numerous aerial bombs, destroying most of the zoo. Of 3,500 animals only
1,500 lived. Many died in agony.
work, the zoo was brought back to life. Then, seven weeks before the end of World War II, 300
bombs hit the zoo and Castle Park, 200 of them in animal enclosures, murdering many animals,
included a beloved rhino bull who used to allowed his keeper to ride on his back. Tiergarten
Schönbrunn was hit by numerous aerial bombs, destroying most of the zoo. Of 3,500 animals only
1,500 lived. Many died in agony.
Above: Elephant house Berlin Zoo 1844; Old Frankfurt Zoo.Below Top row: Berlin Zoo 1945.
Bottom: Wuppertal Zoo; Frankfurt Zoo bombed; Starving cats; The first giraffe in Vienna
Bottom: Wuppertal Zoo; Frankfurt Zoo bombed; Starving cats; The first giraffe in Vienna
