Belle Benchley #12

In 1952, four koalas arrived from Sydney (on load to Paramount Studios for their film BOTANY BAY.) These were late donated to the Zoo. Belle Benchley retired as the Zoo’s managing director in 1953. (For most of her career, she had been the world’s only woman zoo director.) She passed away in 1973 at the age of 91. Her gravestone features a carving of the head of smiling gorilla.