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San Francisco Zoo & Gardens

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History

woodward's-gardens-1870The San Francisco Zoo's history reflects over a century of transformation, marked by milestones in animal care, conservation, and community engagement. The story begins in 1856, during the Gold Rush days, when James Capen "Grizzly" Adams displayed grizzly bears in a basement at Clay and Leidesdorff Streets, a rudimentary ‘zoo’ reflecting San Francisco’s early fascination with wildlife. This fascination grew, leading to the opening of Woodward’s Gardens on 4 May 1866 by entrepreneur Robert B. Woodward, one of San Francisco’s wealthiest man who owed his fortune to the Gold Rush and silver mining. Located in the Mission District, Woodward’s Gardens included animals like sea lions, swans, and deer, offering San Francisco its first true animal exhibits before closing in 1890 as the city’s development encroached on the space.

In 1889, media magnate William Randolph Hearst, curious about the existence of California grizzlies, tasked reporter Allen Kelly to capture a live grizzly as proof. This led to the arrival of Monarch, a massive grizzly bear, who became a beloved figure at Woodward’s Gardens and later Golden Gate Park. Monarch’s image eventually inspired the bear on California’s state flag (read more). His presence sparked public interest in establishing a more formal zoo, a vision taken up by Herbert Fleishhacker, a local banker and philanthropist.

Fleishhacker Pool 1954Fleishhacker officially founded what would become the Herbert Fleishhacker Zoo on 12 June 1929. He chose a 12-hectare site in southwestern San Francisco and quickly expanded it to 50 hectares. It was designed as part of a larger recreational area that included the Fleishhacker Pool - the largest (saltwater) swimming pool in the U.S.A., the Fleishhacker Playfield for picnics and recreation, the Mother's Building - a haven for women and their children, and an original Dentzel Carousel. Fleishhacker’s early Zoo featured animals relocated from Golden Gate Park, including zebras, monkeys, and elephants. The latter being Fleishhacker’s favourite species. In 1929, while on a cruise around the world, Fleishhacker met animal collector and hunter George Bistany in Manila. He commissioned Bistany to diversify the Zoo's collection and soon appointed him as the Zoo's first Director.

George Bistany obtained his considerable knowledge of animal husbandry as an animal collector and hunter, mainly in Asia. This knowledge made him the man suited for the job that awaited him, building exhibits, shelters and corrals for (exotic) species at the newly acquired site of Fleishhacker. He also needed to train the keepers in the care and handling of wild animals and birds, because they were used to taking care and feeding of a limieted array of species, hoofstock and hay-eating animals. So, when word reached San Francisco that Bistany had chartered a shipment of leopards, tigers, pig-tailed macaques, lions and elephants, people started to panic. The small Zoo had neither the facilities nor the expertise to care for these creatures. Bistany himself saved the day by personally overseeing the shipment, improvising cages and delivering impromptu lectures about the care of each species.
Bistany considered the well-being of the animals his top priority and took pride in the success of his breeding programmes. Cleanliness, in the kitchen, as well as in the hospital and exhibits – was his motto.

Fortunately, the Zoo was able to built its first major new exhibits and grew its infrastructure in the 1930s due to the depression-era Works Progress Administration (WPA) at a cost of $3.5 million. Under successive directors, including George Bistany and Edmund Heller, the Zoo expanded its animal collection and developed naturalistic enclosures inspired by conservation science. Bistany, the skilled animal handler, laid the foundation for modern animal husbandry practices, while Heller, a renowned zoologist, collaborated with architects, such as prominent San Francisco architect Lewis Hobart, to design WPA-supported habitats that better simulated animals' native environments. This resulted in the creation of iconic features such as Monkey Island, Lion House, Elephant house and innovative moated bear grottos. These spacious, moated enclosures were among the first bar-less exhibits in the U.S.A. Opening day for the new Fleishhacker Zoo was a festive occasion on 6 May 1940.

On 27 February 1941 the Zoo’s official name became the "San Francisco Zoological Gardens". This name change, proposed by founder Herbert Fleishhacker, was intended to give the Zoo a regional identity and elevate its status beyond a simple collection of animals. The addition of "Gardens" reflected an emphasis on creating a space that integrated naturalistic landscapes with animal exhibits, in line with emerging trends in zoological design that valued both aesthetics and welfare. Over time, the Zoo became commonly referred to as the "San Francisco Zoo", but the full name, "San Francisco Zoo and Gardens", remains part of its official identity, honouring its origins as a zoological garden and recreational space. Also in 1941, the Zoo received several acquisitions from the William Randolph Hearst private collection in San Simeon.

The Zoo's direction shifted in 1954 with the founding of the San Francisco Zoological Society, a nonprofit organization created to support and fund the Zoo’s growth. The Society more or less immediately exerted its influence on the Zoo, developing a master plan in 1956, as the zoo was falling in to a state of disrepair. The once modern animal exhibits at the Zoo were now outdated and deteriorating. Physically the Zoo remained in its original state for about forty years, and it took the Society until 1977 before it could commission the work to build three new habitats after receiving $2.5 million from the Department of Commerce's Public Works Act. The society’s contributions enabled new exhibits - thanks to generous donations from wealthy individuals - including the African Scene (1967), Koala Crossing and Primate Discovery Center (1985), and supported facilities like the Children’s Zoo (renovation in 1964) and a Zoo hospital (purchasing medical equipment in 1975). By the late 20th century, the Zoo had replaced small, sterile enclosures with open, naturalistic habitats that reflect the Zoo's expanded focus on conservation, education, recreation and research, while aiming at prioritizing animals welfare over simple display. The enclosures also conformed to the prescient vision of architect Lewis Hobart on naturalistic habitats in the 1930s.

An important moment came in 1993 when the Zoological Society took over management through a unique public/private Lease Partnership Agreement with the city. This led to dramatic improvements and rebuilt of exhibits throughout the Zoo. In 1994, the first major new exhibit was constructed – the Otter River, while over the next few years, new construction projects, exhibit renovations, and organizational improvements were achieved. But a pivotal turning point came in June 1997 when San Francisco voters approved the Proposition C $48 million Zoo Bond to rejuvenate the Zoo, and $25 million was raised privately to complement this Bond. This allowed for an extensive renovation that reshaped the western half of the Zoo, adding for instance the Lemur Forest, and included the restructuring of the entire entrance sequence, spacious new animal exhibits, and much-needed public facilities. More recently, the Zoo has focused on modernizing its exhibits and enclosures, responding to evolving animal welfare standards and visitor expectations.

Despite these improvements, challenges remain. In 2024 critiques highlight issues with aging infrastructure and welfare concerns, spotlighting the Zoo’s need to reconcile its historical legacy with the demands of contemporary animal care standards. The San Francisco Zoo continues to be a complex institution - one that has evolved from a simple grizzly bear attraction into a storied institution dedicated to conservation, animal welfare, and public education.

 

(Source: SFZoo website, accessed August 2013 and November 2024; several news sources such as San Francisco Chronicles, The San Francisco Standard, Local News Matters – Bay Area, and others, all accessed in November 2024; website Association of Zoos & Aquaria (AZA), accessed November 2024; A History of the San Francisco Zoo, compiled by Nancy R. Chan, published by the San Francisco Zoo, 2004)

What about

Goal: 7000 tigers in the wild

Tiger range countries map

 

"Tiger map" (CC BY 2.5) by Sanderson et al., 2006.

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