San Diego Zoo’s Safari Park opened 50 years ago ZOO’S OPEN-SPACE FACILITY GOES PUBLIC

ANIMAL PARK OPENS WITH SNORT, BLEAT, ROAR

The San Diego Zoo Safari Park opened near Escondido as the San Diego Wild Animal Park 50 years ago this week.

The gates to the San Diego Wild Animal Park opened at 9 a.m. today to admit the public to the San Diego Zoo's great rural venture — a view of 1,000 animals, birds and reptiles.

First man in was Earl Hall, 71, of 2124 22nd St., National City, who arrived at the parking lot at 7:30 a.m.

Lena, an elephant, with trainer Pat Derby on her trunk, charged through a paper bull's-eye at the visitors' gate at 11 a.m. yesterday to mark the dedication ceremony.

Guests ate lunch at long tables under thatch umbrellas or on the shaded walkway while Carol, the painting elephant, took a bath with the aid of trainer Joan Embrey.

Members of the zoo board of trustees, government officials and dedication speakers sat under white tents at a table on the bridge overlooking the pool.

Beyond, across an umbrella-dotted terrace, lay the rolling hills of the 1,800 park at San Pasqual, with 600 acres developed for display of the wild animal collection.

For Ian Player, the Republic of South Africa chief conservator and the man who captured the 20 white rhinos brought to the South African Plains exhibit at the park more than a year ago, it was almost a homecoming.

“I am a religious man,” he said, “and my religion is of the wilderness. This park is brilliant in its conception and execution. No one can visit this wilderness threshold without experiencing a spiritual uplift.”

Player, one of the speakers in the dedication ceremonies, told the audience he was so delighted with the possibilities when he first saw the site more than two years ago that he made an oral agreement for the sale of the rare rhinos with Dr. Charles Schroeder, zoo director, and Anderson Borthwick, board president, on the spot.

“We shook hands on it and never exchanged any kind of paper,” he said.

“That's how much faith I had in this project.” The agreed price for the rhinos was $100,000.

Bill Burrud, a producer of animal documentary films for television, was master of ceremonies.

Mayor Wilson, one of three mayors present, praised the zoo for developing the park.

“I commend your courage and imagination in developing this conservation program that will be greatly educational for all,” he said.

During Borthwick's brief remarks, the clock struck noon with 12 loud bongs, forcing him to pause. Then a sprinkler head because a geyser, briefly spraying dozens of guests.

“I hope you appreciate the extra shower,” Borthwick said “That water costs about 20 cents a quart all the way from Lake Wohlford.”

The first car of the electric train, filled with the honor guests, broke through ribbons and clouds of balloons to take visitors on the five-mile continuous view of animals from various parts of the world.

There were exotic, rare and endangered species — addax, blackbuck, eland, gnu, gaur, gazelle, giraffe, impala, kudu, lion, nilgai, rhino, springbock and zebra — some in pairs, some in families, some in herds. All have been imported for their own protection.