By Tim Lambert
The first recorded polar bear in England was brought to the Tower of London in 1252. He was allowed to fish in the River Thames on the end of a long chain.
The first recorded elephant in England was in 1255 when one was brought to the Tower of London.
The first recorded rhinoceros in Britain was brought here in 1684.
The first recorded crocodile in England was brought here in 1701.
In 1703 Hannah Twynnoy became the first known person in Britain to be killed by a tiger. It was with a travelling fair and it was chained to a staple in the ground. Twynnoy kept annoying the tiger and eventually, it pulled up the staple and mauled her to death.
The first recorded zebra in England was in 1762.
The first recorded orangutan in Britain was in 1816.
The first recorded giraffe in Britain was in 1827. Someone gave King George IV one as a gift. People used to call a giraffe a cameleopard because they thought it looked like a camel with big leopard-like spots.
The first recorded hippopotamus in England was brought to London in 1850. His name was Obaysch.
The first known leopard in the USA was exhibited in Boston on 2 February 1802.
On 18 February 1930, Nellie Jay became the first cow to fly. To prove livestock could be transported by air she flew in a plane from Bismarck, Missouri to St Louis.
In 1957 Laika became the first dog to orbit the Earth. The Russians sent her but the unfortunate animal did not return to Earth.
The first chimpanzee in space was called Ham. He was launched into space in a rocket by the USA in 1961. Ham returned safely to Earth.
The first cat in space was called Félicette. The French sent her up in a rocket in 1963. She returned to Earth safely.
The first tortoises in space were sent by the Russians in 1968. They orbited the Moon and returned safely to Earth.
The first spiders in space were called Anita and Arabella. They were sent to the Skylab 3 space station in 1973.