Firma Ruhe

Firma Ruhe or Louis Ruhe (German: Tierhandelsfirma L. Ruhe; "pet trade company of L. Ruhe") was a multinational, multigenerational family business dealing in wild animals for zoos and circuses. The firm was founded in Germany in 1780 by Louis Ruhe.[1] According to another account, Ludwig Ruhe started the firm in 1830.[2] It may have originally dealt in birds sold at local markets and carnivals.[3]

"Elephants just arrived" (Billboard, 1907)
Louis Ruhe, New Orleans, 1902

The German operation may have been located in Alfeld[4] with port access at Hanover.[5] The company also had a 1,500-acre farm in Arusha, Tanganyika Territory (now Tanzania) for "collecting new stock."[6] Overseas, an American outlet was established in New York in 1869.[1] There was also a London office.[7]

According to one 1940 news report, Firma Ruhe sold 75 percent of the wild animals imported into the United States; pandas cost $10,000, baby gorillas were $4,000, and pythons were sold by the foot ($5 per).[2] Circa 1946, Time magazine described it as a $3 million a year business.[8] Before World II, the firm had 20 "agents abroad," after the war they were starting back with six.[8] (The firm had a veteran collector in India named Meems.[3]) A 1959 fire at the firm's Long Island, New York holding facility killed five Galápagos tortoises, seven mandrills, and 28 Guenon monkeys.[6] Two baby Western lowland gorillas survived.[6]

Firma Ruhe was involved in operating and maintaining Hanover Municipal Zoo.[2] Another Ruhe-operated zoo, Ruhr-Zoo (now ZOOM Erlebniswelt Gelsenkirchen) was located at Gelsenkirchen in the Ruhr area of North Rhine-Westphalia.[6]

References
  1. "Times Union 27 Nov 1927, page 85". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  2. "The Pittsburgh Press 20 Dec 1940, page Page 29". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  3. Mannix, Daniel P.; Ryhiner, Peter (2015-02-24). The Wildest Game. eNet Press. ISBN 978-1-61886-754-4.
  4. Zacharie, J. S. (1902). New Orleans guide: with descriptions of the routes to New Orleans, sights of the city arranged alphabetically ... also, outlines of the history of Louisiana.New Orleans: F.F. Hansell & bro., ltd. https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/009588489/Cite
  5. Magazines, Hearst (April 1939). Popular Mechanics. Hearst Magazines.
  6. "80 ANIMALS DEAD IN QUEENS BLAZE; Baboons, Tortoises, Llama Die in Animal Farm Fire -- Were Destined for Zoos". The New York Times. 1959-01-09. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  7. Burnham, Peggy Adler and Dibirma Jean (2022-11-30). Pallenberg Wonder Bears – From the Beginning. BearManor Media.
  8. "FOREIGN TRADE: Bring 'Em Back Alive". Time. 1946-03-25. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved 2023-04-20.


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