while drummond's initial enthusiasm was enough to sustain the zoo, throughout the early 20th century, as the years passed the lack of public interest created financial issues. finally in the 1940s, the zoo was forced to shut its doors, though it was only missing from the public eye until 1945, when the city acquired its new location in são cristóvão.

along with it came a towering, magnificent gate that still welcomes visitors to this day, a wedding gift for dom pedro i and his future wife, leopoldina.