[2][3] Belle Jennings was born in Larned, Kansas, in 1882 and moved to San Diego with her family at the age of 5.

They settled in the Roseville area of Point Loma, where the local elementary school was located in her parents’ home.

[4] She and Dr. Wegeforth, as a team, oversaw the growth of the zoo through extensive animal collecting and innovative design.

[8] She was featured by the San Diego Union Tribune in their special 2021 section "Phenomenal Women: Executives and Entrepreneurs".

She is buried in Greenwood Memorial Park in San Diego, where her gravestone features a carving of the head of a smiling gorilla drawn by her granddaughter, Laurel.