Cincinnati Zoo 3

 


BIRDS

Birds-1.jpg (108575 bytes)    Birds-1a.jpg (154057 bytes)            Birds-2a.jpg (94524 bytes) Same image Birds-2b.jpg (112464 bytes)

   There were originally 7 of these Japanese-style aviaries, constructed in 1875. In 1974 6 of them were demolished with the 7th being preserved as a memorial to Martha, the last known passenger pigeon.

 

                                                   These are not postcards
Passenger Pigeon.jpg (97790 bytes)        Aviary-pre demolition-1974.jpg (187703 bytes)        Martha's Pavilion-1984.jpg (97298 bytes)
               Martha                                 Aviary in 1974                    Martha's Pavilion-1984

        Passenger (carrier) pigeons were once the most numerous bird species on the planet with around 1 billion birds. The last known colony was reported in Michigan. When Martha arrived at the zoo in 1902 she was one of the few remaining carrier pigeons. The species had been ruthlessly slaughtered between 1880-1900 by hunters who used them for food and for live targets. The Cincinnati Zoo, in a desperate attempt to help replenish the species, offered  $1,000 for a mate for Martha, but none could be found. The 3rd  non-postcard image above is one of the 5 original bird aviary buildings that were built in 1875. Martha died in one of these buildings Sept. 2, 1914 and it is now a memorial to her and to Incas the last Carolina Parakeet which also has disappeared from the planet. Martha died when she was an old and frail 29 year old bird. Her body was packed in 300 lbs of ice and sent to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. where it remains today.

 

Eagle vert.jpg (113862 bytes)        Birds-3.jpg (128906 bytes)              Aquila-(Eagles).jpg (185749 bytes)              Trained Eagle Brownie.jpg (250973 bytes)
                              Eagle cage                                                 Aquila (eagle)                     Trained Eagle Brownie & owner

 

Zoo-Bald Eagle-exlg.jpg (621828 bytes)
5" x 7" Card

   Betsy Ross and Brookfield Baldy, the pair of Bald Eagles at the zoo, produced an eaglet which was later released in the wild. The release was part of a program aimed at increasing the population of the endangered species.

 

Birds-4.jpg (112535 bytes)            Macaw.jpg (78700 bytes)
Walk thru bird cage                          Macaws   

 

Birds-6.jpg (125415 bytes)                Birds-5.jpg (122705 bytes)                Birds-7.jpg (96589 bytes)
Ostrich

 

Birds-8.jpg (113025 bytes)            Zoo stork-nest.jpg (117892 bytes)            Birds-9.jpg (89087 bytes)
White Peacock                          RP of  Storks on nest                         You name them

 

ELEPHANTS

    Many of these early cards show a female Asian elephant named "Hatnee" who was a favorite of zoo visitors for decades. She frequently gave rides to children while being led by her trainer, Ed Coyne. Ed started at the zoo when he was 10 years old in 1877 and was still working there 65 years later when he died in 1942. He is seen standing on the leg of the elephant in the 1st non-postcard image below, and standing in front of the Asian elephant in the other.

Zoo Keeper Ed Coyne.jpg (677068 bytes)            Asian Elephant & trainer Ed Coyne.jpg (212343 bytes)
Zoo Keeper Ed Coyne  around 1915

 

Zoo Elephant 1.jpg (122770 bytes)          Zoo Elephant 1a.jpg (99039 bytes)          Zoo Elephant 2.jpg (96271 bytes)          Zoo Elephant 3.jpg (97237 bytes)
Hatnee being led by Ed Coyne                                                                                                            

 

Zoo Elephant 4.jpg (96384 bytes)          Zoo Elephant 5.jpg (80894 bytes)          Zoo Elephant 6.jpg (97661 bytes)          Zoo Elephant 7.jpg (111899 bytes)

 

Zoo Elephant 8.jpg (121793 bytes)          Zoo Elephant 9.jpg (123890 bytes)          Elephant-new-1.jpg (148922 bytes)          Elephant-new-2.jpg (97417 bytes)

 

Zoo-Pigmy Elephant Gimpy.jpg (324374 bytes)
Gimpy-A Pigmy Elephant
Photo by Paul Briol

   Gimpy was donated to the zoo in 1932 by Judge Alfred K. Nippert. She was only 6' tall at maturity and was one of the most popular attractions at the zoo for many years.

 

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