The zoological gardens of Europe, their history and chief features

by C. V. A. Peel

At the second meeting, held on May 15, 1830, Dr. Whitley Stokes, then Regius Professor of Medicine in Trinity College, was elected the first Honorary Secretary of the Society, and on May 21, 1830, Mr. James Pim, junior (41, Dame Street), was elected the first Honorary Treasurer.

Although numerous meetings of the Managing Committee were held during the summer and autumn of 1830, there does not appear to have been much progress made in the formation of a Garden until the summer of 1831. This was largely due to the fact that the Duke of Northumberland left Ireland in December, and to the difficulties which, in consequence, arose in obtaining the formal possession of the site in Phœnix Park. In June, 1830, the Honorary Secretary intimated that the Lord Lieutenant ‘had been pleased to give formal possession of the ground in Phœnix Park,’ but it was necessary that this grant should be officially confirmed by the new Viceroy, the Marquess of Anglesey. It was not until May 28, 1831, that a letter was received from Colonel Gossett, the Under-Secretary, who, in his capacity as Park Ranger, conveyed the necessary powers, and at the same time intimated that the Lord Lieutenant would be ‘happy to patronize the Society and give it his support.’

At this stage it is right to bring prominently forward the valuable services which were rendered by Mr. Nicholas Aylward Vigors, F.R.S., in connection with the early struggles of the Society. Having taken an active part in the foundation of the London Zoological Society in 1826, he had been elected its first Honorary Secretary, and held that office until 1833. He was deeply interested in the Dublin project, and ten days after the public meeting he wrote to the Managing Committee to say that the London Society would extend its co-operation to the Dublin Zoological Society. A few weeks later he was elected on the Managing Committee, and attended several of the early meetings. It is evident that his advice was much relied on, and largely served to shape the early policy of the new Society. At the first meeting at which he was present (July 8, 1830) he urged the necessity of having a plan of the proposed Gardens prepared by a competent person, and he was authorized by the Committee to ascertain whether Mr. Decimus Burton, Architect to the Zoological Society of London, would place his services at the disposal of the Society in Dublin. This Mr. Burton ultimately agreed to do for a fee of £75.

Some slight idea may be obtained from Mr. Burton’s report of the condition of the ground at the time it was allotted to the Society. He says in regard to this: ‘The ground on the other side’ (evidently referring to the constabulary side of the lake) ‘is enclosed with a stone wall, but the line it takes is very irregular. The upper or eastern portion of the site is a paddock nearly level, at about 26 feet average height above the surface of the water. In this paddock are two groups of fine timber trees and an orchard. The slope next the water is thickly covered with well-grown underwood, principally thorny. The original buildings consist of a substantial dwelling-house, an outhouse or stable, and a small cottage. The Society have had erected, but in a temporary manner, a wooden building for the reception of the deer, nylgais, etc., alcove seats, bear pits, etc., and lately they have finished, in a better style, an otter place. There is an old ice-well in the grounds.’

PHŒNIX PARK, DUBLIN.

From the minutes it would appear that the cottage was occupied by Mrs. Rourke, and that the substantial building referred to was the park-keeper’s lodge. Mrs. Rourke, evidently uneasy with regard to her tenure, approached the Committee, and the Honorary Secretary was instructed to inform her that the Society did not ‘at that moment require the house,’ and that ‘they will not interfere to have her removed immediately.’ Mrs. Rourke appears to have been a somewhat troublesome tenant. In April, 1832, it was ordered that the communication between Mrs. Rourke’s house and the Gardens be cut off, and in December of the following year ‘Mrs. Rourke was cautioned not to hang any more of her linen within sight of the visitors to the Gardens.’ Ultimately, on April 27, 1835, it was resolved ‘that Mrs. Rourke be warned that, unless she do leave the Gardens before the next meeting of Council, she will forfeit the advantages so liberally accorded to her by the Council.’

During the winter of 1830-31 there were no meetings of the Committee, but after the formal acquisition of the site, operations were actively carried on with a view towards the early opening of the Gardens to the public. Up to this time the only animal mentioned as being in the possession of the Society is a wild boar. On September 25, 1830, £2 were allowed to Godden ‘for the support of the wild boar,’ and in the following year (May 28, 1831) there is an entry ‘that the sum of £2 be given to Godden for feeding the pig.’ During the summer of 1831 animals were gradually gathered in, but it is very doubtful if the Gardens could have been opened that year without the large consignment that came through Mr. Vigors from the London Gardens.

In 1830 His Majesty King William IV. presented to the London Society all the animals in the royal menagerie in Windsor Park. Amongst these there were fourteen wapiti deer, of which two were sent to Dublin, along with one Sambur deer, one nylgai, two emus, two ostriches, and quite a number of less important animals. These animals arrived some time in June, 1831. There is a note in the minute-book (on the 25th of that month) to the effect that Dr. Stokes was empowered ‘to send Godden to London as soon as possible to take charge of the animals, and bring them over by the London steamer.’

In 1831 the King handed over to the London Society the collection of animals that was kept in the London Tower, and on this occasion he expressed a wish that such as were not required for Regent’s Park should be sent to the Zoological Society of Dublin. In this manner the first royal gift of animals came to Dublin. It consisted of a wolf, a leopard, and a hyæna.