12th December 1925
Zoologicó del Parque Metropolitano
(Santiago,Chile) The history of the national zoo dates back to the 19th century. In 1882, the country's first zoo was inaugurated in Quinta Normal by professor Julio Bernard, followed twenty years later by another zoo in Concepción featuring native animals, founded by professor and entomologist Carlos Reed.. In 1921, Carlos Reed began a campaign with the Intendant of Santiago, Alberto Mackenna, to obtain financing and land for what would be the National Zoological Garden. On September 1, 1925, the then President of Chile, Arturo Alessandri Palma, issued Supreme Decree No. 4273, allocating 4.8 hectares of San Cristóbal Hill to building the zoo. A number of species held at the Quinta Normal zoo were brought across to the new zoo along with 70 other animals from zoos in Mendoza and Buenos Aires via the Transandine Railway. Among the species forming a part of the new zoo were a camel, Somali sheep, two boas, a ñata cow with an inherited abnormality, macaws, and a baboon. The zoo's installations were built in less than two months with the collaboration of architect Teodoro Panuzzis. The National Zoo was officially opened by the Vice President of Chile, Luis Barros Borgoño, on December 12, 1925. The first director of the zoo was Carlos Reed. On May 21 2016, Franco L.Ferrada jumped in the lion enclosure to commit suicide. The lions were shot and killed by the zoo officials.