History of the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa:

The Aquarium and Reptile Park was also developed  under Dr Brand's supervision and was opened in 1974.  

This was built were the original farm house " Rus in Urbe" stood, which was used as the director's residence.   A new residence was built in 1968, and the main entrance was changed in 1980.   The Frank Brand educational building was built just left of the main entrance in 1982.

With the inisiative of the nature concervators, night tours were started to gain funds that was needed to erect the new Elephant Night quaters in 1984.

Mr. Labuschagne accepted the position of director in 1985 after being curator of the Johannesburg Zoo for 13 years.  

The idea of a bio-exhibition in which a collection of species are shown in the natural groupings  and habitat is  strongly supported by him. The masterplan - development in the Zoo is enjoying a lot of attention.  

 According to Mr Labuschagne the public is the Zoo's most important partner.   Through his constant inputs the National Zoological Gardens is currently involved with many national and international research programs.

Projects under Mr Labuschagne's supervision:

1989        Erection of the Pretoria Portland Cement sun dial that went along  with        the  90   year existance of the Zoo.

1990     The first insectarium was develop in Africa

1995        Erection of the parrot enclosures and the Sammy Marks fountain.

                    Modernisation of the Bigalke Institute to an administration building,     

1996        Walkthrough aviary

                    Upgrading of the Chimpanzee enclosure

                    Hippo Lapa

                    Upgrading the old Elephant night quaters to a conference center

                    Animal Nursery

1997        Upgrading of the printshop

                    Entrances to the Zoo and aquarium were merged to one

                    Upgrading of the hippo and pygmy hippo enclosure

                     Dukuduku Bauma ( Restaurant)

1998         Zoo Mobile

                    Upgrading of the main entrance and parking area

                    Cable car was bought by the Zoo

                    Plant nursery

1999        Upgrading of the  aqauruim, bear, baboon, takin and siamang enclosures

                    Koala enclosure

                    Completion of the main entrance

3.  Today:

The Pretoria Zoo survived The Anglo-Boer War, Two World Wars, The world wide Depression of the 1930's  together with one of the worst droughts in the history of mankind and much more, to become one of the worlds largest Zoos, the biggest Zoo in Africa and the only Zoo in South Africa with national status.

Currently the Zoo covers an area of about 80 hectares in the centre of Pretoria. The Zoo offers a home to about 118 mammal and 181 bird species.  

There are approximately 279 fishes, 90 reptillians and 5 amphibian species in the Aqarium and Reptile Park. A Total of 6447 individuals!