12
JANUARY, 2018
In this era of climate change, of melting ice caps, vast chunks of icy continents drifting into new territories and stranded polar bears, you’d still doubt London has ever seen a giant white arctic mammal fishing in the River Thames. But it has…
King Henry III ruled between 1216-1272 and during this period he enjoyed the company of a polar bear. The bear in question, which must have been bewildered, to say the least, was a present of the King of Norway and was routinely allowed to enjoy what was the only thing even vaguely close to its original habitat – The Thames.
London Bridge
Stock Photograph
And it wasn’t the only misplaced beast to be seen in and around the Tower of London; lions, ostriches, leopards, elephants and chimpanzees made up a menagerie that significantly pre-dated any more modern concept of safari parks.
It also pre-dated commonsense and any notion of safety as it resulted in many incidents and accidents.