PICTURES: Did you know Aberdeen used to have a zoo?
ByReporter
Aberdeen zoo in 1974
Opening a zoo in Aberdeen was first proposed at an informal meeting between representatives of the Town Council and Aberdeen University in Sept 1961.
The facility was eventually opened in Hazelhead Park, in 1966.
The zoo was located immediately to the area west of the main gate in Hazelhead park.
Zoologist Peter Scott, founder of the World Wildlife Fund and only child of Robert Falcon Scott, the Antarctic explorer opened the zoo.
The zoo grew in size and diversity, developing links with local schools and organising regular events and newsletters for members of the Zoo Club and Junior Zoo Club.
Falling visitor numbers and financial difficulties during the 1970s led to its closure in 1977.
A rare white gyr falcon was found on the rig Ocean Rover in the Forties Field, exhausted and poisoned by oil in 1975. The bird was flown by helicopter to Aberdeen Airport. The falcon was checked over by George Leslie of Aberdeen Zoo with Bob Baxter, left, who helped rescue the bird on the rig. It was to be released into the wild again.
Feeding the seals was a thrill for the children of Inverallochy School, Fraserburgh, when they visited Aberdeen Zoo in May 1972 during an outing to Aberdeen. The children also visited the Winter Gardens at Duthie Park.
Joining the group for a picture in 1976 was one of the seals at Aberdeen Zoo, Hazlehead. His admirers were the youngsters of St Devenick’s Playgroup from Bieldside.
A happy moment for these members of the 2nd Newhills Guide Company at Hillocks School, Bucksburn, in October 1976, as they had a special visitor – Promise, the Aberdeen Zoo fox they had adopted two years previously.
Youngsters with a lion cub who seems to be helping to raise money.
Bruno and Dainty the bears who it was hoped would produce cubs at Aberdeen Zoo.
Keeper John Laing gets a big welcome from female wolf Lass.
Chargehand Reg Reid meets an iguana while converting the reptile house to a butterfly house.
Goats and lambs are the centre of attention when the petting zoo reopened in 1979.
Keeper John Buchan with a couple of boa constrictors.
The llama at Aberdeen Zoo, Hazlehead Park, poses for our photographer and seems to ignore its visitors from Newtonhill Playgroup on an outing in June, 1987.
Old Rayne Playgroup posed for a picture round the seals’ enclosure during a visit to Aberdeen Zoo at Hazlehead Park in July 1975.
Stephanie Chesney and Nicola Connon with donkeys at the petting zoo.
A thrill for the children of Inverallochy School, in 1972, when they visited Aberdeen Zoo during an outing to Aberdeen.
PICTURES: Did you know Aberdeen used to have a zoo?
