Cincinnati Zoo 4

BUFFALO / BISON

   In 1903 the Cincinnati Zoo built a 3 acre exhibit for the then almost extinct Bison or Buffalo. The herd was one of the two largest bison herds in American zoos.

                       
                                                                                                                                                           Bismark

   Bismark was described as the largest bison in captivity.

YAKS

Buffalo house on right

HERBIVORA  BUILDING

Not a postcard-1974

   The Herbivora building was constructed in 1906 at the huge sum, for then, of $50,000. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975, it is considered one of the most spectacular historic buildings in the zoo world. Originally designed for hoofed animals it was, at 150' long and 75' high, the largest and most complete concrete animal building in the world. It has since undergone several renovations and is now the Elephant House.

Festival of Lights  Highlighting
Elephant House

ZEBRA  &  ELANDS

ZEBRAS

R.P. of newly constructed
African Veldt

   The African Veldt was built in 1935 and replaced the Der House that had opened in 1875.

BOTH  ZEBRAS  &  ELANDS

ELANDS

BONGO

Large Card

   The Bongo above was the result of the first transcontinental embryo transfer. The rare Bongo was born to a common eland. The mother and baby can be seen in the card.

CAMELS

               
                                                Drumadary (?)

   Of course the second card above was supposed to say "Dromedary" (one-humped camel. The two-humped camels are Bactrian.

DEER / ELK

                               
                                                                                                                                                                                                RPPC 

   The stamp box on the last card above says Inland 1/2d stamp foreign 1d. I am not sure what country produced this postcard.

                           AOUDADS                                                      FAT TAILED SHEEP

                                       
Audads (?)                                                                                                                                        

A 1905 German generic card
Cincinnati on card in glitter.

BEEF  KILLING  CONTESTS

   Because of Cincinnati's butchering tradition, beef killing contests were very popular events drawing as many as 1,000 people. The zoo hosted this 1898 contest publicized by the flyer above which explained the rules and judging criteria. In this contest, that was sponsored by the German Butchers Society of Hamilton County, live cattle weighing no less than 1,400 pounds were brought to the stage and dispatched, usually with an ax. After the head and feet were removed and the steer prepped by a "helper," time was called, and a "dresser" set to work earning points for speed, neatness, condition of the hide and other fine butchering practices. First prize was $150, second prize $75, and third $25. For die-hard fans after the beef dressing there was a sheep-killing event. There was a grand competition held in 1890 in New York's Central Park where the winner won $1,000. The winning time was 4 minutes, 22 seconds.

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