User:Cs104g20/sandbox
Cs104g20/sandbox | |
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55°50′20″N 4°06′29″W / 55.839°N 4.108°W | |
Date opened | 1947[1] |
Date closed | August 25, 2003[2] |
Location | Uddingston, Scotland |
Land area | 99 acres (40 ha)[1] |
Annual visitors | 140,000[1] |
Major exhibits | Lions, Black Bears, While Rhinos, Capuchin Monkeys |
Website | www |
Glasgow Zoo, or Calderpark Zoo, was a 99-acre (40 ha) zoological park in Uddingston, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. It was just outside the city of Glasgow.
It was established by the Zoological Society of Glasgow and West of Scotland in 1947, which was itself established in 1936.[3] The zoo was located on the lands of the former Calderpark Estate, and during its peak attracted around about 140,000 visitors a year
The zoo closed in August 2003 after running up a debt of around £3.5m. In the last few years that it was open, Glasgow Zoo deteriorated mainly due to the lack of funding.[2]
History
Founding
The Zoological Society of Glasgow was founded on December 15, 1936 by Edward Hindle who was a Professor of Zoology at
Last Years
Starting in 1999 the zoo tried to sell off its excess to land, but delays in planning permission prevented the sale.[7] In 2000 it started to hire out some of its animals to help raise much needed cash, but drew criticism from animal welfare campaigners.[8]
In 2002, thieves that stole two of the zoo's non-poisonous snakes and vandalised a van and the zoo's tea room.[9] Another break-in a few months later resulted in a parrot being stolen from the zoo.[10]
Closure
Glasgow Zoo closed on 25 August 2003[2][11] despite being set to close in late[12] September.[13] The zoo closed because of debts of £3.5m which it accumulated after it’s public funding stopped in 2000.[2] Animal welfare organizations had concerns about conditions and public safety.[2] During the time before closure, staff from the zoo in tandem with SSPCA workers helped relocate animals to other zoos or enclosures. Even though the zoological society stated interest in re-opening the attraction or he creation of a similar attraction on the site as of November 2012 no plans have been put forward to suggest renovation on the creation of another attraction, instead the old site remains debilitated and unused.
Since the closure of the zoo in 2003, the area and old buildings are fallen into disrepair with many of the enclosures being burned, demolished or vandalized as well as illegal dumping from nearby developers and constructors causing further damage to the structures to the point where many are now unsafe for use. The area itself is no longer being locked due to extensive damage to the gate and gatehouse(burned to the ground) as well as the rear gate being burst open. However as of January 2005, a number of animals were still confirmed to be on-site including llamas, ostriches and ponies.
Animals and Exhibits
The zoo specialized in four types of animals:
Controversies
During the zoos final years before closure, it developed a crippling amount of debt. The publication of this debt in the media, along with the apparent rundown appearance of the zoo, resulted in animal rights groups looking into the welfare of the zoos animals. A report written by Jordi Casamitjana, for
With such great debt it was innevitable that the zoo would fall into disrepair and the welfare of its animals would also fall dramatically. Les Ward, the director of
Glasgow zoo was also well known as a zoological garden due to the large number of plant life situated around the zoo's enclosures and the zoo itself had its very own wildlife garden with a wide range on natural habitats including scrub woodland containing birch and ash tress, a large selection of hedge life including hawthorn and hazel and even its very own section of traditional Scottish moorland. The wildlife garden and surrounding areas were often used for teaching as the wide variety of plants allowed for many areas of plant life to be studied.
Site development after closure
By late 2004, one of the car parks built to facilitate Glasgow zoo had been developed into a set of luxury flats, the second car park being fenced off to reduce vandalism.
In March 2012, Miller Homes building company submitted an application detailing plans for the construction of 78 houses on the Glasgow zoo site to Glasgow city council. After receiving only one objection, these plans were approved subject to negotiations. The plans include the development of residential areas, infrastructure works including a park and ride facility for the new development and landscaping of the nearby areas.[1][16]
References
- ^ a b c d MacMillan, Amanda (6 March 2012). "Homes to be built at former Glasgow Zoo site". local.stv.tv. STY Glasgow. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
- ^ a b c d e "Cash crisis closes zoo". BBC. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
- Edinburgh University, Royal Scottish Geographical Society. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
- ^ a b "Glasgow Zoopark". Glasgow Zoo. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
- ^ "Glasgow Zoo". secretscotland.org.uk. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
- ^ "Glasgow Zoopark". Glasgow Zoo. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
- ^ "Glasgow Zoopark". Glasgow Zoo. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
- ^ "Zoo animals for hire". BBC. 26 February 2000. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
- ^ "Snakes stolen from zoo". BBC. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
- ^ "Sad end for 'lovesick' parrot". BBC. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
- ^ "Bears still homeless as Glasgow Zoo closes". Telegraph. 26 Aug 2003. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
- ^ "Glasgow Zoo closure date set". BBC. 17 June 2003. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
- ^ "Glasgow Zoo: nothing left but memories". Retrieved 8 November 2012.
- ^ a b http://www.animal-protection-consult.com/GLASHID.PDF
- ^ http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/animal-welfare-group-claims-glasgow-zoo-should-close-because-of-squalor-1.147358
- ^ http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/councillorsandcommittees/agenda.asp?meetingid=11236