“A zoo in the heart of the city?” you might ask. Right here in Tel Aviv, a zoo once thrived. The Tel Aviv Zoo, founded in 1938, entertained and educated generations. It started as a humble pet shop on Shenkin Street, owned by Rabbi Dr. Mordecai Schornstein. Locals flocked to see his exotic birds and mammals. However, the zoo’s growing collection, including donated lions and tigers, proved too much for the neighborhood.
In 1939, the Tel Aviv Zoo found a new home behind City Hall. The zoo flourished in this new location. Families strolled past enclosures, marveling at animals from around the world. The zoo even achieved fame for its successful breeding program for flamingos, a rare feat in the 1960s and 70s. But as Tel Aviv grew, so did the need for space. The city decided to merge the Tel Aviv Zoo with the Zoological Center of Tel Aviv-Ramat Gan.
In 1980, the animals embarked on a journey to their spacious new home. The Gan Ha’Ir shopping mall now stands where the Tel Aviv Zoo once delighted children and adults alike. Only memories and a few scattered photographs remain of this once-beloved city institution. The Tel Aviv Zoo serves as a reminder of the ever-changing urban landscape and the enduring human fascination with the animal kingdom.