John Heinrich August Hagenbeck , wildlife animal trader in Germany Born 1866 in Germany dead 1940 in Sri Lanka , son of animal trader Carl Hagenbeck Sr. . John Hagenbeck (1866-1940) was the eldest son from the second marriage of Carl Claes Gottfried Hagenbeck and thus a half-brother of Carl Jr., well known for his zoos. John worked for Firma Carl Hagenbeck from 1881, transporting animals and travelling on his behalf, by organizing the export of Ceylonese elephants through the Port of Colombo. The Hagenbecks had an animal catching station near Kilimanjaro and John accompanied Baron Axel Blixen for a hunt in the area. John was also a friend of Leonard Woolf who was briefly stationed in Hambantota. 1884: John Hagenbeck went to Sri Lanka to buy elephants for Firma Carl Hagenbeck, which he delivered in Hamburg. 1885: J.H. returned 1885 to Sri Lanka and lived there for 25 years, exporting tea, coffee and animals. In 1886 he visited Ceylon and recruited people for Hagenbeck's Völkerschau or "human zoo". 1890: J.H. established established Firma John Hagenbeck & Co., ship furn. and animal trade. In 1891 he moved to Colombo and worked as a planter. He soon acquired rubber, cocoa and tea plantations, while he also traded in animals. 1914: The property in Ceylon was repossessed and he was deported by the british in August 1914 during the First World War. He moved to Indonesia to avoid internment and then fled to Germany. 1918: John Hagenbeck established a film company which produced films on his travels, John Hagenbeck Film AG, in Berlin, which he left in 1923. He also wrote several books. 1923: J.H. returned to Sri Lanka and founded "Ceylon Zoological Gardens Company" where he kept animals before being shipped, which were also an open Zoo for visitors. 1924-1927: J.H. returned to Europe with a ship full of animals and show people, which he took on tour in Europe. 1927: returned to Sri Lanka and reestablished his trade with tea and animals. 1936: Ceylon Zoological Gardens Company in Dehivela was liquidated and the company confiscated as enemy property, which 1937 became Dehivela Gardens in Sri Lanka. 1939: J.H. and his his Sri Lankan born wife was put in Diyatalawa internment camp by the british. 1940: John died, 74 years old, in Diyatalawa internment camp in Colombo, shortly after the outbreak of the Second World War. John Hagenbeck left his wife and a son, John George Hagenbeck (1909-1959).
John Hagenbeck Born: 1866
Father:Gottfried HagenbeckBorn: 1810
Mother: Born:
