Belfast Zoo
Encyclopedia
Belfast Zoological Gardens (also known as Bellevue Zoo) is a zoo
in Belfast
, Northern Ireland
. It is located in a relatively secluded location on the northeastern slope of Cavehill
, overlooking Belfast's Antrim Road, resulting in a uniquely tranquil environment for the animals that the zoo is frequently praised for.
The majority of the animals in Belfast Zoo are in danger in their natural habitat. The zoo carries out important conservation work and takes part in over 90 European and international breeding programmes which help to ensure the survival of many species under threat.
Belfast Zoo is owned by Belfast City Council
. The council spends £1.5 million every year on running and promoting the zoo, which is one of the few local government-funded zoos in the UK and Ireland.
The zoo's work is overseen by the council's Parks and Leisure Committee. The committee is made up of 20 locally elected councillors.
In 1911, the tram line was taken over by Belfast Corporation, now Belfast City Council. The corporation decided to build a miniature railway
, playground, and pleasure gardens at the end of the line to encourage customers to use the service. The area was named Bellevue Gardens, meaning 'good or pretty view'.
During the 1920s and 1930s, the gardens were a popular destination for day trips. In 1933, the corporation decided to install a representative zoological collection on the site. Then, in 1934, 12 acres (4.9 ha) on either side of the Grand Floral Staircase, a series of steps designed to reach the top of the hillside, were laid out as Bellevue Zoo.
It took 150 men to build the site and the steps can still be seen from Antrim Road today. The zoo was opened on 28 March 1934 by Sir Crawford McCullough, the then Lord Mayor of Belfast. The venture was supported by Councillor RJR Harcourt from Belfast Corporation and was partnered by George Chapman, an animal dealer and circus entrepreneur.
It cost £10,000 to build and a total of 284,713 people visited the zoo in its first year.
In June 2007, a Barbary lion
cub was born at the zoo. This was the first Barbary lion to be born in Ireland
. The cub was rejected by its mother and hand-reared at home by keeper Linda Frew. Lily the lion moved to Hodonin Zoo in the Czech Republic
in August 2009, as part of a breeding programme.
In 2008, the zoo opened a new tropical rainforest which houses such animals as two-toed sloth, red-footed tortoises and Rodrigues bats. The Rainforest House is a walk-through exhibition with tropical landscaping and a constant temperature of 27 degrees.
More recently, renovations have included work on the gorilla
and chimpanzee enclosures, giraffe and elephant enclosures, including a raised giraffe feeder, and new frames in the spider monkey and Andean bear enclosures.
In 2009, on its 75th birthday, the zoo opened a new state-of-the-art Visitors’ Centre and Zoovenir Shop. The refurbishment features high-level roofing with plenty of natural light and multimedia presentations showing the history of Belfast Zoo and wildlife in Northern Ireland.
The zoo was awarded £250,000 from the Tourism Development Scheme (TDS) from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board
to build the new reception area. The council has donated a further £300,000 to help with the increase in visitor numbers.
2009 was a successful year with plenty of new arrivals including a Sumatran tiger
called Kabus, and the only Tree-kangaroo
in the UK, called Kwikila. 2009 also brought the zoo’s highest level of visitors in its history with over 302,000 visitors. Over 90 babies were born in the zoo in 2009.
2010 has seen the arrival of two smooth-coated otters, red titi monkeys and a pair of Toco Toucan
s. Other new arrivals are planned for the year, to include a female Sumatran tiger to join Kabus.
May Day in 2010 had more than double the visitors of the same day in 2009.
Babies since 2009 have included a Malayan tapir, ring-tailed lemurs, a Grant's zebra, sea lions, prairie dogs, litters of piglets, spider monkeys, red kangaroos and many more.
In the 1960s, the hall was a popular venue for visiting musical artists including Pink Floyd
and Small Faces. The hall has been derelict since the outbreak of the Troubles in the 1970s. Belfast Buildings Preservation Trust are planning to renovate the building, although Belfast City Council have yet to provide any funding.
2010 has seen the project be taken further, with various meetings to discuss potential uses for the hall and the carrying out of a feasibility study.
Zoo
A zoological garden, zoological park, menagerie, or zoo is a facility in which animals are confined within enclosures, displayed to the public, and in which they may also be bred....
in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. It is located in a relatively secluded location on the northeastern slope of Cavehill
Cavehill
Cavehill, historically known as Ben Madigan , is a basaltic hill overlooking the city of Belfast in Northern Ireland. It forms part of the southeastern border of the Antrim Plateau. It is distinguished by its famous 'Napoleon's Nose', a basaltic outcrop which resembles the profile of the famous...
, overlooking Belfast's Antrim Road, resulting in a uniquely tranquil environment for the animals that the zoo is frequently praised for.
About the zoo
Belfast Zoo is one of the top fee-paying visitor attractions in Northern Ireland, receiving more than 300,000 visitors a year. Located in north Belfast, the zoo's 55 acres (22.3 ha) site is home to more than 1,200 animals and 140 species.The majority of the animals in Belfast Zoo are in danger in their natural habitat. The zoo carries out important conservation work and takes part in over 90 European and international breeding programmes which help to ensure the survival of many species under threat.
Belfast Zoo is owned by Belfast City Council
Belfast City Council
Belfast City Council is the local authority with responsibility for the city of Belfast, the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland. The Council serves an estimated population of , the largest of any district council in Northern Ireland, while also being the fourth smallest by area...
. The council spends £1.5 million every year on running and promoting the zoo, which is one of the few local government-funded zoos in the UK and Ireland.
The zoo's work is overseen by the council's Parks and Leisure Committee. The committee is made up of 20 locally elected councillors.
History
The story of Belfast Zoo begins with the city’s public transport system. At the beginning of the 20th century, passengers from Belfast were transported to the villages of Whitewell and Glengormley by horse-drawn trams belonging to the Belfast Street Tramway company and steam tramways from Cave Hill and Whitewell.In 1911, the tram line was taken over by Belfast Corporation, now Belfast City Council. The corporation decided to build a miniature railway
Bellevue Park Railway
-History:Bellevue Park was a popular recreational facility between the two world wars, providing gardens, ponds, amusements, refreshments, a zoo, and a gauge miniature railway for the entertainment of visitors. The Bellevue Park Railway, which received a new locomotive and carriages in 1933 from...
, playground, and pleasure gardens at the end of the line to encourage customers to use the service. The area was named Bellevue Gardens, meaning 'good or pretty view'.
During the 1920s and 1930s, the gardens were a popular destination for day trips. In 1933, the corporation decided to install a representative zoological collection on the site. Then, in 1934, 12 acres (4.9 ha) on either side of the Grand Floral Staircase, a series of steps designed to reach the top of the hillside, were laid out as Bellevue Zoo.
It took 150 men to build the site and the steps can still be seen from Antrim Road today. The zoo was opened on 28 March 1934 by Sir Crawford McCullough, the then Lord Mayor of Belfast. The venture was supported by Councillor RJR Harcourt from Belfast Corporation and was partnered by George Chapman, an animal dealer and circus entrepreneur.
It cost £10,000 to build and a total of 284,713 people visited the zoo in its first year.
Recent developments
Belfast Zoo is always making changes and welcoming new arrivals or celebrating births.In June 2007, a Barbary lion
Barbary Lion
The Barbary lion , also known as the Atlas lion or Nubian lion, is a subspecies of lion that became extinct in the wild or extinct in the 20th century....
cub was born at the zoo. This was the first Barbary lion to be born in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The cub was rejected by its mother and hand-reared at home by keeper Linda Frew. Lily the lion moved to Hodonin Zoo in the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
in August 2009, as part of a breeding programme.
In 2008, the zoo opened a new tropical rainforest which houses such animals as two-toed sloth, red-footed tortoises and Rodrigues bats. The Rainforest House is a walk-through exhibition with tropical landscaping and a constant temperature of 27 degrees.
More recently, renovations have included work on the gorilla
Western Lowland Gorilla
The western lowland gorilla is a subspecies of the western gorilla that lives in montane, primary, and secondary forests and lowland swamps in Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. It is the gorilla usually found in zoos...
and chimpanzee enclosures, giraffe and elephant enclosures, including a raised giraffe feeder, and new frames in the spider monkey and Andean bear enclosures.
In 2009, on its 75th birthday, the zoo opened a new state-of-the-art Visitors’ Centre and Zoovenir Shop. The refurbishment features high-level roofing with plenty of natural light and multimedia presentations showing the history of Belfast Zoo and wildlife in Northern Ireland.
The zoo was awarded £250,000 from the Tourism Development Scheme (TDS) from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board
Northern Ireland Tourist Board
The Northern Ireland Tourist Board is a non-departmental public body of the Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment. Its primary objective is to promote Northern Ireland as a tourist destination....
to build the new reception area. The council has donated a further £300,000 to help with the increase in visitor numbers.
2009 was a successful year with plenty of new arrivals including a Sumatran tiger
Sumatran Tiger
The Sumatran tiger is a tiger subspecies that inhabits the Indonesian island of Sumatra and has been classified as critically endangered by IUCN in 2008 as the population is projected at 176 to 271 mature individuals, with no subpopulation having an effective population size larger than 50...
called Kabus, and the only Tree-kangaroo
Tree-kangaroo
Tree-kangaroos are macropods adapted for life in trees. They are found in the rainforests of New Guinea, far northeastern Queensland, and nearby islands. Although most are found in mountainous areas, several species also occur in lowlands, such as the aptly named Lowlands Tree-kangaroo...
in the UK, called Kwikila. 2009 also brought the zoo’s highest level of visitors in its history with over 302,000 visitors. Over 90 babies were born in the zoo in 2009.
2010 has seen the arrival of two smooth-coated otters, red titi monkeys and a pair of Toco Toucan
Toco Toucan
The Toco Toucan is the largest and probably the best known species in the toucan family. It is found in semi-open habitats throughout a large part of central and eastern South America...
s. Other new arrivals are planned for the year, to include a female Sumatran tiger to join Kabus.
May Day in 2010 had more than double the visitors of the same day in 2009.
Babies since 2009 have included a Malayan tapir, ring-tailed lemurs, a Grant's zebra, sea lions, prairie dogs, litters of piglets, spider monkeys, red kangaroos and many more.
Floral Hall
Located within the grounds of the zoo is a 1930s art deco ballroom, the Floral Hall.In the 1960s, the hall was a popular venue for visiting musical artists including Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
and Small Faces. The hall has been derelict since the outbreak of the Troubles in the 1970s. Belfast Buildings Preservation Trust are planning to renovate the building, although Belfast City Council have yet to provide any funding.
2010 has seen the project be taken further, with various meetings to discuss potential uses for the hall and the carrying out of a feasibility study.