Riga Zoo is one species that continues to evolve

RIGA - Riga Zoo is like a cat with nine lives. Its history is a timeline marred with refusals, occupations and closures. But what might initially appear as a track record of false starts and finish lines with no reward, this animal sanctuary has beaten the odds to celebrate a marathon one hundred years since its inception.

Historians Elvira Hrscenovica and Daiga Leimane compiled an account of the zoo, researching its beginnings and the tumultuous years which followed. While studying, they found that an application to establish a zoo in Riga had already emerged towards the end of the 1800s. However, at that time, the city council expressed the opinion that “a zoo would be an unnecessary luxury.” In 1907, a file regarding ‘The Opening of a Zoo in Riga’ appears in council documents. On Sept. 29, 1908 an outline for the Riga Zoological Garden association was approved. They undertook a collection for funding, and work finally began. On April 13, 1911 the Riga City Council and the association signed an agreement on an understanding that the park would open within a five-year-period and have at least 75 animal species on display.

At that time the zoo’s creators ascertained the key priority was to show visitors national animals and birds, those within the North Temperate Zone, so foreign creatures played a secondary role. The Riga Zoological Garden was founded on Oct. 14, 1912 after city councillor E. Betihers, forest engineer E. Ostvalds and chairman of the association F. Bahs walked through the zoo, and then signed a statement of acceptance. There were more animal species at the zoo than requested - 88 on display - when the park first opened its gates. Staff consisted of 10 zookeepers and 13 other employees.

The admission fee in 1912 was very low. For adults the price on Sundays was 20 kopecks, but on weekdays 25 kopecks; for children 15 years or younger entrance was 10 kopecks, but for school children lead by their teacher the fee was 5 kopecks each.

Many animals were given to the zoo as gifts from businessmen, companies, ship captains and anonymous individuals. The first elephant was given by Mr. Zirins and the Hibner Company; the first wild boar by Turkestan consul Mr. Vortman. In 1914 the zoo received 534 animals valued at 28,239 roubles. Even His Majesty Emperor Nicholas II gave a pair of bison. Prior to World War I, the real estate value of the zoo was 130,000 roubles; however the animals alone were priced at 42,000 roubles.

When WWI broke out, the zoo’s financial situation became critical. Seven employees were drafted into the army and all German citizens left the association. The City Council granted the zoo a monthly benefit of around 1,000 roubles per month to help keep it running, but in 1915 visitor numbers decreased catastrophically because the main tram line going to Keizarmezs was cancelled. In 1916 the council cut its support altogether. Some of the animals were sold and some were… eliminated.

Turning to the community for help, expenses to keep the bison (the pride of the zoo) were covered by commerce advisor Gusevs. A nameless gentleman gave financial support to keep the snow panther, while several women donated financial help for the needs of the wild boar Trina. Records show a Mrs. Krossa provided firewood, the bakery Samsons, Rikkerts un Ko offered breadcrumbs, and the companies Angelbeks and Mencendorfs delivered rice and raisins.

The zoo was maintained until the end of 1917, when the German army entered Riga. They took 37 of the most valuable animals. Donations stopped, though the property was maintained in the hope it would continue to operate. Unfortunately with the loss of attractions this was not to be, and in 1921 Riga City Council gave the territory of the zoo and all the buildings to the Social Care department, who organized children’s summer camps in the territory. In the following years many of the zoo’s buildings and fences were dismantled or used for other purposes, and the lions’ den was destroyed.
On June 15, 1923 the Social Care department took down Riga Zoo’s sign, replacing it with one at the main gate entrance that read: “Children Summer Camps.”

Three years later, at a local council meeting, a question regarding the zoo’s restoration was raised. A special committee was assigned to deal with the proposal, but no real progress occurred for seven years. The Ministry of Agriculture’s forest department met to discuss the founding of a zoological garden with two main purposes: the first being the protection of animals and birds in Latvia’s forests and, secondly, the educational advantages that such an attraction could offer. From July 1, 1933 the department rented part of the former zoological garden territory (34,052 m2) for one lats per year. Two months later, on Sept. 24, the new zoo opened, awaiting its first visitors. The Latvia Zoological Garden association was officially registered in December that same year and in August 1935, following long negotiations with the Social Care department, the former zoo territory was given to the group for 25 years.

In the years leading up to World War II many improvements and advances happened under the direction of a Mr. Gailitis. A tiger cage, monkey house, lions’ den and reptile enclosure were all built. Central heating was installed and glass walls were placed between enclosures and viewers for safety. Paving of roads continued, electric lighting installed, water mains were set up and construction of public toilets commenced. At that time there were 311 animals from 112 species in the zoo. In 1940 Soviet occupation of Latvia commenced. The new authority abolished the Latvia Zoological Garden association, giving jurisdiction of the park to the Riga Real Estate Management office. Gailitis resigned from his position. He was later arrested and deported to Siberia in 1941. He died while in exile.

The zoo’s veterinarian, Arvids Viksne, was elected as the temporary vice-president. Known for his managerial talent, professional skills and humane qualities, he succeeded in keeping the zoo open.
The post-war years are considered Riga Zoo’s “golden age” regarding the big cats: 50 lions and 20 tiger cubs were born between 1945 and 1955. On Dec. 6, 1952 the Bengal tiger Akbars-Purss was born. The cub was fed and raised by zookeeper Olga Buceniece. Later tamed by Margarita Nazarova, he became very popular, performing at the circus and starring in the films Tiger Girl (1955) and Striped Trip (1961).

During the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s the zoo sought to establish a more international presence by hosting conventions and collaborating with other zoological gardens, such as Kobe in Japan and Rostock in Germany. Partnerships with more than 50 zoological institutes continue to the present day.
Considered one of the greatest achievements is the Ecology laboratory which in 1988 initiated a project to reintroduce the European Tree frog into nature. Once extinct in Latvia, these amphibians are now thriving. Riga Zoo also takes part in 68 international captive breeding programs for threatened species.

Today there are 421 animal species including 86 mammal, 79 bird, 61 reptile, 62 amphibian, 65 fish and 68 invertebrate types in the zoo’s collection. Although considered small, the zoo still has 250-300,000 visitors annually.

Visit the zoo at: www.rigazoo.lv