“Don’t Fence Them In” (c.1940s) is an elaborate, silent color film documenting a day out at New York City’s Bronx Zoo. The film features detailed shots of animal species from around the world from Aldabra giant tortoises to polar bears and penguins. The film appears to be professionally made, but we have no idea who made it or why.

Founded in 1898, the Bronx Zoo is one of the most famous zoos in the world. Aimed at preserving native animals and promoting zoology, the Bronx Zoo remains one of the largest wildlife conservation parks in the United States, housing 4,000 animals. The zoo made early efforts to pull animals out of cages, especially with the groundbreaking African Plains habitat (c.1941), which is featured in this film (16:09).

Automobiles (1933 Plymouth Deluxe, other 40s-era vehicles) parked around Rockefeller Fountain at Rainey Gate Concourse (0:17). New York state flag (1:11). 1939 Greyhound Lines bus trolley (formerly used at 1939 World’s Fair) (1:27). Crowd gathers for show and feeding at sea lion pool, sea lions jump from rocks into water (2:04-7:20). Perhaps Sambar deer (7:25). Aldabra Giant Tortoises (7:35). Two pandas wrestle each other, other pandas lounge around (7:58). Flamingos walk around and feed in small pond (9:22-12:41). Heron (12:43). Other aquatic bird species in same area: Ducks, swans cohabitate and feed off vegetation (13:32). Various close-up shots of Shoebill bird, unique beak (14:36). Crowds walk up ramp towards African Plains Habitat display, cutout maps of African continent line wall (16:09). “Plain Dweller Animals:” Grey crowned cranes (national bird of Uganda), ostrich, okapi, vulture, peacocks (18:14). Young girls feed Nubian ibex through a wire fence (18:44). Zebras feed off short-cut grass (19:15). Flock of gray crowned cranes (20:00). More shots of wildlife cohabitating in same enclosure (21:23). Woman in 40s-era dress poses for camera by boulder (22:21). African lions: Two male lions nap under tree, various shots of lions roaming around designated area (22:38). Wildebeest stands by fence (24:20). Ducks in pond (24:31). Peacock roams around grass (24:51). Wide shot of Bronx Zoo Northern Ponds (25:15). Perhaps Highland Cattle (25:19). Patagonian mara (25:33). Visitors feed African gray parrot peanuts through fence (26:25). Magellanic penguins swim in pool (27:49). Southern white rhinoceros wanders enclosure, bathes in pool (29:09). Elephants walk around enclosure, use trunks to eat food on ground (31:23). Hippos wade in pool (33:53). Camera pans outdoor café area (34:22). Woman sits on park bench and feeds swarm of pigeons (35:16). Otter area, visitors play with zoo’s Asian small-clawed otters in field (35:56). Polar bear paces back and forth in cage, feeds on raw meat, bathes under small waterfall (36:12). Grizzly bear cubs sprayed down with hose (38:30). Tiger paces back and forth in cage during feeding time (39:56). Lioness wakes from nap (40:03). Nile crocodiles lay in grass (40:28). Raccoon sits in a hollowed-out log (41:04). Peacock sits in grass (41:52). Ducks waddle around rocks by small waterfall (42:29). Heron sips water at base of waterfall (42:57). Mishmi takins (43:20). Family of pelicans sit under tree before swimming around pond (43:48). Swan gracefully swims across pond (46:50). Hirolas wander grass field in enclosure (47:12). Dromedary camel (Arabian camel) (48:13). Family of reindeer (48:30). Children’s petting zoo area: Zookeeper holds duck in lap while kids pet animal, kids ride llamas and bactrian camels, mini-donkey pulled cart (49:20). Visitors climb into carriage for hay ride to “Farm-in-the-Zoo” (c.1941) (53:32). Farm animals: Ducks splash in pond, pigs lay in dirt, chickens (53:44). Bronx Zoo DeLancey’s Falls along Bronx River (54:38). “Monkey Island:” perhaps Bengal Hanuman langurs hand from trees (54:59). Young couple embrace by shore of pond (57:20). Pelicans and pigeons along pond shore (57:25). Women feed bread crumbs to geese, pigeons from their purses (58:16). End (58:44).

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com