Dublin Zoo has animal magnetism

At its AGM last week, the Zoological Society of Ireland elected its first lady president.

Margaret Sinanan, the 57th holder of the office since Dublin Zoo opened its gates on September 1, 1831, follows in the footsteps of Samuel Haughton and Robert Lloyd Praeger.

In this recession, when most such institutions are on hold, ‘the Zoo’ is going from strength to strength. Visitor numbers are increasing and Dublin Zoo is the most popular attraction in the country with a million admissions per year. It had 565 animals, of 102 species, in its collection on January 1 and 314 mammals and birds were born in 2010.