| Zoological Society Of London |
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| CATEGORIES ABOUT ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON | |
| learned societies of the united kingdom | |
| zoology | |
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| 1826 establishments | |
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The purpose of the society was to study animals in comparative freedom. In April 1828 the Zoological Gardens were opened to members. In 1831 William IV presented the royal menagerie to the Zoological Society, and in 1847 the public were admitted to aid funding, and Londoners soon christened the Zoological Gardens the " Zoo ". The Zoo soon had the most extensive collection of animals in the world. As the twentieth century began, the need to maintain and research large animals in a more natural environment became clear. Sir Peter Chalmers Mitchell (ZSL Secretary 1903–35) conceived the vision of a new park no more than 70 miles away from London and thus accessible to the public, and at least 200 acres in extent. In 1926, profiting from the agricultural depression, the ideal place was found: Hall Farm, near Whipsnade village, was derelict, and held almost 600 acres (2.4 km&2) on the Chiltern Hills. ZSL bought the farm in December 1926 for £13,480 12s 10d. In 1928 the first animals arrived at the new Whipsnade Wild Animal Park — two Amherst pheasants, a Golden Pheasant and five red jungle fowl. Others soon followed, including Muntjac Deer , Llama s, Wombat s and Skunk s. In 1931 Whipsnade Wild Animal Park was opened to the public as the world's first open zoological park. In 1960–61, Lord Zuckerman , then Secretary of ZSL, raised funds from two medical foundations to found laboratories as an Institute Of Zoology where scientists would be employed by ZSL and undertake research. In 1962, 'Caroline', an Arabian Oryx , was lent to the herd in Phoenix, Arizona . This started the first international co-operative breeding programme. Today ZSL is an international scientific, conservation and educational charity. Its key role is the conservation of animals and their habitats. ZSL runs London Zoo and Whipsnade Wild Animal Park , carries out scientific research in the Institute Of Zoology and is actively involved in field conservation in other countries worldwide. It has also published the '' Journal Of Zoology '' since 1830. EXTERNAL LINKS |
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