"Did you know there once was a zoo in the heart of Tel Aviv?", This question is often repeated, by those lucky enough to remember, when passing by the Gan Ha’Ir Garden in Tel Aviv.

After years of living in the neighborhood of Gan Ha'ir in Tel Aviv and due to the often-repeated question, we decided to try to understand how lions and giraffes lived in the heart of the urban space and how it affected the residents. We began collecting memories and stories from people who visited the zoo every day by creating a dedicated Facebook group that has become a real community and by fulfilling extensive archival research. We discovered that the zoo was an unforgettable experience for the residents of the neighborhood whether because of the notorious smells, roars of the lions, or legendary personnel that were employed by the zoo.