The political adventures of Xing Hui and Hao Hao – the two Chinese pandas which recently arrived in Belgium – have underlined the extent to which zoos can be at the crossroads of many interests. For once, Brussels has escaped these aspects of the polemic due to the simple fact that it is one of the only European capitals without a zoo. But during the second half of the 19th century, there was a zoo at the current location of Léopold Park. Its history reveals tensions which still exist today between science, acclimatisation and leisure, with the question of profitability and the economic models used by zoo operators as a backdrop.

Issue number 77 of Brussels Studies traces the history of the Brussels zoo based on the image portrayed by the guidebooks published at the time. Its author, Wim Lambrechts, is a historian and environmentalist. He is a researcher at Hogeschool-Universiteit Brussel, at the Centre for Economics and Corporate Sustainability (CEDON). This little known part of Brussels history is therefore told from the perspective of a historian who is concerned about the relationship between humans and nature, as well as being aware of the economic stakes.

His analysis underlines the romantic and idealised character of the zoo at the time, in a context of discontent with respect to rising pollution levels, and of urban competition and prestige. During its brief existence (1851-1878), the Brussels zoo sought to position itself as a scientific institution. For the public, this was especially noticeable in the detailed descriptions included in the guidebooks sold to visitors.

At the time, the zoo was above all a place to enjoy a walk and to be seen, in order to reinforce one’s social status. The aspect of leisure was evident in the quality of the architecture and the many cultural activities organised for adults and children.

The ambition to be a modern zoo with scientific and educational functions based on a recreational aspect, was nevertheless a failure in Brussels. There was always a significant gap between the ideal and the reality, especially in terms of management. Yet the model of a recreational zoo tends to be the reference today, but not necessarily at the heart of big cities.

References
Kohlbrenner, Ananda “The Brussels Zoo: A Mirror of 19th Century ‘Modes of Thought’ On the City, Science and Entertainment”, Brussels Studies [Online], General collection, No 78, on June 23^rd 2014. URL: https://journals.openedition.org/brussels/1227
Contact
Benjamin Wayens, Senior Editor: bwayens[at]brusselsstudies.be