Dublin Zoo

Dublin Zoo, located in the Irish capital of Dublin, is the fourth-oldest zoo in the world. It was opened on September 1, 1831, by the Zoological Society of Dublin with 46 mammals and 72 birds, which were donated by the London Zoo. Today, the 28-hectare zoo is home to around 440 animals representing 70 species. It is divided into various themed areas such as “The World of Primates,” “The Fringes of the Arctic,” “The World of Cats,” “The City Farm,” and “African Plains.” Of course, the zoo also participates in the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP), which coordinates the breeding of endangered species in Europe. For example, the zoo maintains the studbook for the white-handed tamarin, the Moluccan cockatoo, and the orange-crested cockatoo.

Every year, over a million visitors of all ages visit the zoo, which is open year-round and ranks among Ireland’s most popular destinations.

But what does the Dublin Zoo have to do with the former Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studios in Beverly Hills, California? It’s simple: On March 20, 1927, the lion “Cairbre” was born at the Dublin Zoo; he appeared in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studios’ logo as “Leo the Lion.”