[2] It was "once a major tourist attraction and a hot spot for school educational outings" according to Cape Times coverage of its closure.

"[1] The zoo was notable for its breeding successes, including the 1998 birth of "the world's tiniest tortoise", a baby Namaqua speckled.

[2] A predecessor zoo was founded by John Spence and Geoff McLachlan at Kraaifontein, just outside Cape Town in 1966.

[2][a] The zoo's closure in 2012 was, according to Lorraine Spence, due to decline of visitors during its last ten years, and expenses of animal feed and salaries, that made it no longer financially viable.

It purpose-built and opened a modern facility for chimpanzees and small animals from Tygerberg.

John Spence was long intrigued by stories of Cape lions, including their scaling the walls of Jan van Riebeeck's fort in the 17th century.

Shortly before that, National Geographic Today featured a documentary special on the topic.