I remember someone at EAZA referencing this idea a few years ago: a grouping of zoos established back in the 19th or early 20th centuries, situated in the centre of large cities. Such organisations would typically have certain common assets and problems:
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old buildings and structures probably past their useful life but with important heritage and community links
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possibly national preeminence as the zoo in their country’s capital city
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parking, access and similar problems being surrounded by busy cityscapes
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a special degree of national and community affection, and a sense of history , place and tradition that other newer zoos might not quite claim
Unfortunately I have never been able to track down the originator of this beguiling idea ( which may well open access to funding in some form)
Anybody out there ever heard of this before? Any comments on the idea?
