Timeline of events

Timeline of events at Chessington Zoo 1931 - 1987

1935 - A disastrous fire at 4am on 29th September in the circus stables, kills 5 ponies including Nancy & Squibbs and a zebra called Charlie.

1936 Advert tells of animals and their names - Joey the monkey in a circus on a tightrope, Teddy bears, lions, cubs, elephants, tigers, leopards, hyenas, bear's tea party as well as penguins, ostriches, flamingos, a zebra and 2 sea-lions. The zoo had over 200,000 visitors during the season. camels.

1937 - New arrivals at the zoo include spotted hyenas and another pair of camels.

1938 - Animal births include zebra, sealion, wallaby, kangaroo, penguins and 3 tiger cubs named Snip, Snap and Snorum.

1941 - Chessington Zoo amalgamated with Paignton Zoo to become Chessington & Devon Zoo during the war period. Animals including an Elephant, Lions & Tigers were moved to Devon. Frank Foster, a famous circus ringmaster joined Chessington as circus manager and equestrian director. The circus consists of 36 horses & ponies, 3 elephants, 2 camels, 2 llamas, 3 monkeys, a sea-lion, mule & 12 chorus girls.

1944 - During the war years, three people were killed, and 21 bombs fell on the grounds. A doodlebug exploded in a tree above Jack, the polar bears cage. He was thrust against the side of the cage by the blast and lay silent for days, but amazingly recovered. A penguin enclosure was destroyed and an ostrich’s leg was severed and flung 30ft; the animal was sadly put down. A monkey cage was also blown apart, allowing the animals to escape before recapture shortly after.

1945 - The contract between Chessington and Paignton Zoo finishes as then war ends, and the staff and animals return from Devon.

1946 - R. S. Goddard passes away on Christmas Day & Chessington Zoological Gardens becomes a company. The 1,500 animals housed at the zoo consume daily 30 tons of meat, 60 boxes of bananas, 40 boxes of oranges and require 20 tons of straw for bedding.

1953 - The roaring of lions could be heard at night as far away as Clayton Road, Hook. Increasing traffic in the later years muffled their cries.

1962/3 - Giraffes join the zoo collection this year. A Chessington hybrid caused a sensation when a Watussi bull and an American bison cow bred, producing two cows. It was believed to have been a world first. By now, a large grassy area fronting the Leatherhead Road contained the lions and tigers. A zebra, born in the notoriously foggy December of 1962, was named Smog. By now a new attraction was a common hippopotamus, Humphrey.

1967/70 - Ape house opened. Deputy director Eddie Orbell quits after many years to run a wildlife park in Scotland. The zoo now has 335 mammals in 101 species; 800 birds in 103 species; 51 reptiles and amphibians and 200 fish in 21 and 70 species respectively.

1972 - Death of Hans Brick at the age of 72 on 22nd August in Middlesex. He had built the circus at Chessington. Stock is 406 mammals in 103 species; 568 birds in 136 species; 28 reptiles and amphibians in 19 and 58 species respectively. Construction of a Bird garden is now in progress. Collection now includes jackals, leopards, puma, wolves, coyotes, raccoons, mongoose, cranes, flamingoes and storks.

1978 - Pearson's, a subsidiary of the Tussauds Group buys the zoo - First manager is Peter Morgan

1980 Head keeper is Ron 'Ginger' Eaton, who is later replaced by Chris Anscombe (previously head primate keeper)

1985 Nigel Martin an ex-Royal Marines officer takes over as manager, assisted by Robin Dunham and David Attwood who both leave the zoo's employment by 1991.

1987 - Pearson's turn the zoo into a theme park, Chessington World of Adventures is opened by Prince Edward on 7th June.