History of the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa:

3.The Whining Schoolboy:

(Another few years)

1910             Elephant-  and Rhinoceros house

From the early aquisition registers, it was noted that during the latter part of 1910 and early 1911, a number of animals were "deposited" in the Zoo for King George V  who acsended the British throne in 1910. There could however no evidence be found that these animals were ever transferred to the Royal London Zoo which was the King's  officail menargerie.  

1911             Bear house

1912             Raptor aviaries

In 1910 the impressive  Sammy Marks fountain was donated to the Zoo by the City Council of Pretoria.  Fish were kept in the bowl of the fountain.

Dr Gunning died in 1913 and Dr A. K. Haagner served as Director from 1914 to 1926. Although the Zoo could not afford many animals, dr. Haagner did allow the Zoo to serve as a kind of intermediate home for animals that were on their way to Europe or America. In this way the public could see a great variety of animals.

For a number of years the Zoo was known as the Transvaal Zoological Gardens.  However in  a letter dated 11 August 1916 and addressed to the Secretary of the Interior, Dr Haagner requested that this institution, for a number of reasons, be known as the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa.  Permission of this name change was granted and in October  1916 the Zoo became officially known as the national Zoological Gardens of South Africa.  With this the Zoo also gained its national status.

4.The Lover

( Striving to maturity)

Other developments in Dr Haagner's time:

1915        Primate house

As can be expected there were many accidental deaths in the Zoo in the early days.   A death reported in the Transvaal Zoological Gardens Report of 1915 Stated that :        " The Koodoo had a remarkable accident, which was especially regretted as the animal had been reared in the Gardens from 3 months old, and was almost 4 years of age, with a fine pair of horns.  He was gambolling  around in his camp after a heavy shower of rain and slipping in the mud, fell with his horn downwards, which was driven into the earth for over six inches - the weight of the animal's body causing the neck to brake"

1917        Giraffe house

1920        Ostrich house and vivarium for reptiles

The number of new species added from 1900 to 1920 totals 266 mammal species.  

5. The Soldier

( Strong young man)

On April 1 1927 Dr R. Bigalke took over as Director.

Projects under Dr Bigalke:

1928        Tea room and orchestra podium for entertainment

1932         Development of the mountain area, north of the Apiesriver

                     - the predator camps were built there-

1938       Inauguration of the mountain terrace

1039      Eileen Orpen bird aviary

6. The judge

( wisdom of the middle-aged)

1940        Completion of the bear enclosures

1958        Carl Jeppe terraces completed

1963        Office block and Rudoph Bigalke Institute completed

In 1960 Dr F. Brand took over as the fourth director of the Zoo.   According to him a Zoo had to be representative of the  animals in the natural environment and he started to develop  the Zoo according to this principle.   Night quaters were moved to the sides of the enclosures to provide more privacy for the animals.  As part of the programe larger camps were built.

Dr Brand was also aware of the need to breed with endangered indigenous and exotic animals, but space was however a problem.   The Breeding Centre at Lichtenburg was made available in 1974 and in 1981 the Potgietersrus Breeding Centre was founded.  The National Zoological Gardens also was able to procure the development of the De Wilt Breeding Centre, property of me. Ann van Dyk.   The famous king cheetah was bred here for the first time in captivity. 

In 1969 a project for the development of the zoo farm was approved.  The Lions Club donated R30 000 and the zoo farm was completed in 1982.  It was specifically develop to comply with the needs of the handicapped.

 building of a new hospital, boumas and breeding rooms.

                    Total upgrading of  the  service aria

                    New enclosure