different acquaintances as well as strangers,” wrote Irena Meizel. Zabinski, with exceptional modesty and without any self-interest, occupied himself with the fates of his prewar Jewish suppliers. As the situation in the ghetto deteriorated, he offered them shelter. Under the pretext of supervising the trees and small public garden within the ghetto area, he visited his Jewish acquaintances and helped them as best as he could. As an employee of the Warsaw municipality he was allowed to enter the ghetto. When the Warsaw ghetto was established Jan and his wife, Antonina, began helping their Jewish friends. Despite the enormous problems he faced as the director of a zoo during wartime, he was not blind to the suffering of the Jews. He was the author of many popular-knowledge books about biology and the psychology of animals, as well as the producer of a number of very popular radio-shows. Jan Zabinski was the director of the zoo. When World War II broke out extensive parts of the zoo were destroyed in the bombings, many animals were killed, and others, including the zoo's special attraction – the elephant Tuzinka – were taken to Germany.ĭr. This prosperity was, however, short lived. By the 1930's the Warsaw Zoo had become one of Europe's largest zoos.
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