Switzerland

Bears play a major role in the shaping of Bern. In addition, animals are kept in Schanzengräben and Engehalde for over 100 years. Thanks to a donation by William Gabus in 1901, a new animal park could be built "if possible in Dählhölzli" as noted in Gabus' will. Construction starts February 1936, and the opening is celebrated 5 June 1937 on which occasion the bear pits are assigned to the animal park. Architect: Emil Hostettler
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Urs Eggenschwyler who worked directly with Carl Hagenbeck creating sculptures and artificial rocks started his own private menagerie on the Milchbuck in Zürich, 1881. He used to walk a hand-raised lion in the Niederdorf area. A tiny little jealous of Basel, Zürich had to wait until 1927 for its own city zoo to open.
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