The Old Zoo in Kadriorg
The idea of building a zoo had been circulating in Tallinn for some time already, but it was only realised thanks to the performance of our great shooters at the Helsinki World Championship in 1937. The Estonian Shooting Sport Federation’s team became the World Champions and as one of the prizes they brought home with them a lynx cub they named Illu, who was temporarily placed into the Kadriorg tree nursery. This popular animal became a huge crowd magnet and a starting point for realising the idea of building the Tallinn Zoo. That small plot of land bordering Kadriorg became its first temporary location.
The zoo was opened on 25 August 1939, right on the eve of war, a few days after the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact had been signed. It was due to the war that the temporary location became a rather long-term solution.
The bombing in March of 1944 by the Soviet Air Force also left a painful mark on the zoo. Illu the lynx was killed by shrapnel.
The premises of the old zoo on the current city map, viewed from Ilvesesild. A dotted line marks the location of the administrative buildings and icons mark the locations of some of the animals.
Figure: Tallinn City Centre Administration
Illu the lynx cub
Tallinn Zoo archives
Only in the year 1961 was new life breathed into the zoo, when Karoly Stern, energetic and enthusiastic about animals, became the head of the zoo. He made the most of this small plot of land and expanded it as much as possible. Although the location was cramped, that plot of land did have one advantage – the Lasnamäe limestone cliff. It was thanks to this cliff that the world’s best collection of mountain goats and sheep, who enjoyed the slope tremendously, was created in Tallinn. The living conditions of animals were improved in other ways, too; the zoo developed cooperation with other zoos and enriched its collection.
In 1965, Tallinn Zoo acquired its first chimpanzee, Peeter, who became a well-known television star among other things. He could be seen in the film Peegliahv (Mirror Monkey) and in multiple television shows.
The entrance of the zoo in the 1970s. You can guess the location by the tower blocks of Lasnamäe.
Ado Vaik. View of the entrance of Tallinn Zoo, TLM F 8975:1, Tallinn City Museum, http://www.muis.ee/museaalView/2751474
View from the bear cage across the waterfowl pond towards the administrative buildings.
Ado Vaik. Tallinn Zoo territory, TLM F 8975:6, Tallinn City Museum, http://www.muis.ee/museaalView/2751491
Contrary to the widespread belief, the old zoo was not located underneath Laagna Road. In fact, Laagna Road engulfed only a small corner of the administrative buildings that were situated near the current Ilvesesild and the stairs leading up to Lasnamäe. The rest of the area was dug up during the construction and the zoo could not have remained there, but the entire area that was inhabited by the animals is situated outside the bounds of the road. However, the sauna of Peter the Great, which had been converted into the zoo office, was carefully taken apart piece by piece with the intention of assembling it in the new location. Unfortunately, the pieces were destroyed in a warehouse fire in the 1980s.
View of the bear cages
Tallinn Zoo archives
Today’s Tallinn School of Service can be seen behind the mountain goat enclosure
Tallinn Zoo archives
Director Karoly Stern showing visitors around the zoo
Tallinn Zoo archives
Seal pool
Tallinn Zoo archives
Aquarium-terrarium building
Tallinn Zoo archives
The sauna of Peter the Great, which served as the office, at the end of today’s Ilvesesild
Tallinn Zoo archives
The Tallinn City Centre Government thanks Mati Kaal and Inari Leiman for the compilation of historical material!