The polar bear who lived at the Tower... along with a grumpy lion and a baboon who threw cannon balls: Britain's first (and most bizarre) zoo

A historic look at the exotic animal collection that was kept at the Tower of London for nearly 600 years as the Tower prepares to open a special exhibition about the era. The animals, which included wildcat species such as tigers, lions, leopards, lynx, jaguars, and ocelots, began arriving at the Tower as gifts to British Royalty from other countries. When the menagerie became too much in 1830, many of the animals were dispersed to the Zoological Society of London and placed at Regent's Park. The history includes attacks and maulings by the animals.

Read More