Leon Lion, Ústí Nad Labem Zoological Gardens, Czech Republic

The Zoo in Ústí was founded in 1908 by Heinrich Lumpe, a businessman and dealer in metal goods, and a respected ornithologist and nature lover. Lumpe purchased 6 hectares (15 acres) of land and set up a private bird sanctuary that was known as Lumpepark. On this property, he built the Little Dwarf castle, a system of cascades and waterfalls, and a lake with a fountain in the lower part of the property. In 1914, the park was opened to the public.
After Lumpe's death in 1936, the park was kept up, largely thanks to the senior gardener and other staff. After World War II, the Czech Republic took over the park and turned it into a zoo. The new cages and paddocks were installed, and the area was gradually enlarged to its current 26 hectares (64 acres).
In the 1970s, the zoo started updating their exhibits, with glass replacing bars and more spacious paddocks for the animals.