Southampton Zoo - four reasons it should never have existed

That’s what it was like when Southampton Zoo occupied a small corner of the land.

But aside from the obvious breach of the peace, there were far bigger concerns about the zoological complex.

Although some of us may have fond memories of the centre, it would never be allowed to exist today.

Here are a few reasons why Southampton Zoo should never have existed:

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Chimps were encouraged to smoke cigarettes

The chimpanzees were a popular attraction and would hold mischievous tea parties every afternoon.

They would often entertain the masses by mimicking them, and although this sounds cute, this led to one of them being encouraged to pick up a potentially life-threatening habit - smoking.

One of the chimps, named James, was known for his smoking habit.

James was taught to smoke by visitors to the zoo who would throw lit cigarettes into his cage.

James quickly learned to enjoy smoking and would often smoke cigarettes throughout the day.

James’s smoking habit caused him a number of health problems, including respiratory problems and heart disease.

He sadly died in 1985 at the age of 23.

The story of James the smoking chimp is a reminder of the importance of animal welfare and that animals should not be forced to perform tricks or engage in activities that are harmful to their health.

Conditions were cramped

The zoo’s enclosures became cramped and outdated.

The animals did not have enough space to move around and they were often kept in small, concrete cages. This led to a number of health problems for the animals including stress, boredom, and obesity.

In the 1980s, the zoo began to experience financial difficulties. The owners were unable to afford to improve the enclosures.

This, quite rightly, led to a public outcry and the zoo was eventually closed in 1985.

Actresses Joanna Lumley and Virginia McKenna even protested in Southampton, both condemning the cramped conditions with the latter branding them as “so poor one’s heart sinks”.

The closure of Southampton Zoo was a victory for animal welfare. It showed that the public was no longer willing to tolerate zoos that keep animals in cramped and outdated conditions.

Today, zoos are expected to provide their animals with spacious enclosures that meet both their physical and psychological needs.

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Elephant died after eating plastic

The public were allowed to feed the elephants and this may have come at a great cost.

After an elephant suddenly died at the zoo in the 1970s, it was found to have eaten a plastic bag.

It’s thought that someone was feeding the giant animal bread from the bag before it grabbed the lot - bag and all.

Just last year conservationists and veterinarians were warning that plastic waste was killing elephants.

It was reported that the majestic behemoths were consuming plastic in an open landfill in eastern Sri Lanka, thinking it were food.

Around 20 died at the landfill in the space of just eight years.

The animals were so close in proximity that it caused problems

We’re all aware of the butterfly effect, but in September 1965 it was a condor’s wings that put a crazy sequence of events in motion.

In the early hours of a foggy Autumn morning, Conrad, the resident giant condor stretched out and flapped his entire ten-foot wing span.

The movement startled his neighbour, a rhino named Roger who was, at the time, tucked up in an export crate in readiness for a journey to Germany.

Roger went berserk and smashed his way out of the wooden box before scrambling across the zoo to take refuge.

Police and firemen responded to the crisis at 1.30am when they come face-to-face with the charging one-tonne rhino.

Somehow the combined efforts of zoo keepers and the city’s emergency services managed to coax Roger back into his crate.

One policeman was injured during the commotion, although not seriously.