The unluckiest zoo
IT had what was reputed to be the biggest elephant in captivity, two cigarette smoking chimps, and what the Herald described as "probably the cleverest group of performing lions in the country."
The paper said in August 1949 that Craigend Castle Zoo, established by father and son team Andrew and William Wilson at what is now the site of Mugdock Country Park, had in its first four months become "the supreme attractions to visitors and tourists to the district."
An estimated 37,000 people had visited on its first day, leading the Herald to say the crowds heading up Mugdock Road made it look like the route to Hampden on Cup Final Day.
The zoo boasted 2000 animals, plus a big adventure playground for children, compete with motorboats and a miniature railway.
The proprietors had got a lot for the incredible 40,000 they had sunk into the project. The one crucial commodity no amount of money could buy the business was luck. And for the Wilsons and Craigend Castle Zoo, the luck - and the money - ran out all too quickly.
The Scottish weather put paid to the Wilson's dream with four rotten summers in a row keeping the crowds away.
The zoo finally crashed despite the best efforts of the Wilsons to keep the public interested.
These included splashing out 376 on a polar bear and cub, a modest expense compared to the 4000 it also cost them for the bears' accommodation.
Fifty thousand visitors were expected for the opening of the 1950 season and large marquees were erected in the grounds.
These were blown down by fierce storms which kept all but three hardy souls away.
William Wilson later said in an interview that the animals fed all that week on the cakes intended for the visitors.
Right from its earliest days the zoo was getting the kind of publicity it could have done without.
Days before the official opening, 12-year-old Ian Clachar, whose family lived on the estate, was clawed by Rajah the lion. He had slipped while watching Rajah and lionesses Neuri and Delia troop from one cage to another through a safety passage and his left foot went through the bars. He had the distinction of being perhaps the only person treated in a Glasgow hospital for injuries caused by a lion.
That incident, however, was to be followed by others. The Herald was soon carrying headlines like "Youth injured by leopard", "Girl clawed by leopard", and "Leopards maul boy at Milngavie zoo." In the worst incident, a boy had his arms seriously mauled by a leopard and the zoo became the subject of a compensation action.
The Wilsons insisted there were plenty of warning notices, but decided to settle the claim after being advised that the cost of defending the action could run to 25,000.
When the zoo closed, the collection of animals was sold off. Andrew Wilson died in 1971.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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