Glasgow Zoo, also known as Calderpark Zoo, shut its doors for good in August 2003 after accumulating debts of around £3.5 million. The zoo, which opened in 1947 on the former Calderpark Estate in Baillieston, was once home to more than 600 animals and attracted up to 140,000 visitors annually at its peak.
The zoo was established by the Zoological Society of Glasgow and West of Scotland, which had been formed in 1936. Spanning approximately 99 acres, it became one of Scotland's most renowned animal parks. Among its most popular attractions were African lions, white rhinos, Asian black bears, and a polar bear named Winston.
However, by the late 1990s, the zoo faced financial difficulties due to declining visitor numbers and increased competition from Edinburgh Zoo. Reports of poor animal welfare conditions also drew criticism. In 2003, the zoo failed to renew its licence after falling short of newer welfare standards, leading to its permanent closure.
Following the closure, staff worked with the Scottish SPCA to relocate the animals to other zoos and wildlife parks. The abandoned site later suffered vandalism and fires. Today, most of the land has been redeveloped into housing estates, with a Premier Inn hotel and Beefeater restaurant also built nearby.
