Whipsnade Zoo

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  • Sir Peter Chalmers Mitchell (ZSL Secretary 1903-1935) was inspired by a visit to the Bronx Zoological Park to create a park in Britain as a conservation centre. Hall Farm, a derelict farm on the Dunstable Downs, 30 miles (48 km) to the north of London was purchased by the Zoological Society of London in 1926 for £13,480 12s 10d, The site was fenced, roads built and trees planted. The first animals arrived at the park in 1928, including two Lady Amherst's pheasants, a golden pheasant and five red junglefowl. Others soon followed, including muntjac, llama, wombats and skunks. Whipsnade Park Zoo opened on Sunday 23 May 1931. It was the first open zoo in Europe to be easily accessible to the visiting public. The collection of animals was boosted in 1932 by the purchase of a collection from a defunct travelling menagerie and some of the larger animals walked to the zoo from Dunstable station. During the Second World War, the zoo acted as a refuge for animals evacuated from London Zoo. During 1940, 41 bombs fell on the park with little damage to the zoo structure. Some of the ponds in the park are the remains of bomb craters from this period.

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      Whipsnade Zoo

      Whipsnade Zoo

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      Whipsnade Zoo

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        Whipsnade Zoo

          24 Archival description results for Whipsnade Zoo

          24 results directly related Exclude narrower terms
          Bedford, Duke of
          SUP/5/1/2/24 · File · 1946
          Part of Superintendents

          Correspondence between the Duke of Bedford and Geoffrey Marr Vevers regarding the importation of Kangaroos from Australia, Pere David Deer at Whipsnade, the transfer of Deer to New York Zoo, and New Zealand Brown Ducks in the Waders Aviary. Also a biography of the 11th Duke of Bedford
          Buxton, Major A
          SUP/5/1/2/45 · File · 1946
          Part of Superintendents

          Correspondence between Major A Buxton and Geoffrey Marr Vevers regarding a visit to Whipsnade Zoo and the presentation of a Cheetah to the Zoological Society of London
          Copenhagen Zoo
          SUP/5/1/2/71 · File · 1946
          Part of Superintendents

          Correspondence between Copenhagen Zoo and Geoffrey Marr Vevers regarding a visit to London and Whipsnade Zoos, with arrangements regarding the transfer of animals
          Correspondence with claimants for accidents at London Zoo and Whipsnade
          LEG/3/6 · File · 1951-1961
          Part of Legal

          Includes original claims, replies, internal memoranda, evidence from ZSL staff, and correspondence with insurance brokers

          Third party claims for accidents at London Zoo and Whipsnade. These are letters from visitors describing the accident to themselves or their clothes, caused by animals or infrastructure