The first history of the Zoo is short and somewhat vague.
During the time period between 1907 and 1947 no official records were
kept, there were professional personnel, and a had a history of haphazard
growth.
The first animals were unwanted pets, which were donated and kept in make shift cages.
During the 1920’s an Amphitheater was added which brought a great number people to the
zoo and. Bears, local cats, split hoof stock, and birds were an addition to the Zoo and
kept in log cabin style exhibits. The American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums (AAZPA – now
renamed AZA) officially recognizes that the Roeding Park Zoo opened during 1929.
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In the 1930’s the Zoo continued to grow in a rather haphazard manner as more animals were added to the collection. The cat barn exhibit and small chain-link cages were built by the WPA program.
By 1947 the Roeding Park Zoo had grown considerably with new species of exotic animals. Eldon “Curly” Blocker was hired from the San Diego Zoo to serve as the Zoo’s first foreman. More modern grotto-type exhibits were built.
In 1985, the Roeding Park Zoo
name was officially changed to the Fresno Zoo. The Fresno Zoo was renamed the Chaffee Zoological Gardens of Fresno in 1990 in honor of its longtime director, Dr. Paul S. Chaffee, who passed away that year. It became more commonly known as the Chaffee Zoo.
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