The Zoological Society of San Diego: its history and development

Abstract

The Zoological Society of San Diego was conceived at the close of the celebration which first brought San Diego to the attention of the rest of the world. The Panama-California Exposition of 1915—16 drew visitors from all over the world. Exotic animals were brought into San Diego's Balboa Park by the Exposition Company, but when the Exposition closed in 1916, the animals remained—virtually abandoned. Dr Harry Wegeforth, a prominent local physician with a lifelong interest in animals, felt sympathy toward these remnants of the Exposition, and encouraged four other men to join him in establishing the Zoological Society of San Diego. They were Drs Paul Wegeforth, Fred Baker, Joseph C. Thompson, and the naturalist Frank Stephens. The five founders held their first organizational meeting on 2 October 1916. They little realized that their efforts would result in one of the world's great