The wonderful old zoo at Frankfurt, planned in 1859, above, 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.
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.
The very first bomb that the Allies dropped on Berlin in World
War Two killed the only elephant left in the beautiful and 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 panicked and bewildered.
Elephant house, Berlin Zoo, in 1844, left
War Two killed the only elephant left in the beautiful and 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 panicked and bewildered.
Elephant house, Berlin Zoo, in 1844, left
All Creatures Innocent of Blame
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.
Dresden Zoo watched in horror as a wave of bombing set the zoo ablaze.
"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," Sailer-Jackson explained,
"our last giraffe met her death. Many stags and others animals which we had saved became
victims of this hero."
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," Sailer-Jackson explained,
"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.
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.
At the Tiergarten Schönbrunn in Vienna is the oldest public Zoo in the world. 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.
At the Wuppertal Zoo, left, 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.
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 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 that were lost, lamed, blinded, orphaned and even eaten out
of desperation. Whole species of birds and butterflies vanished.
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 that were lost, lamed, blinded, orphaned and even eaten out
of desperation. Whole species of birds and butterflies vanished.
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 also 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 would pace 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 beautiful old Berlin Zoo, only 91 animals remained alive by
war's end.
and large snakes slithered through the crowds of desperate people also 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 would pace 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 beautiful 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.
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.
