During the 1930's the Calcutta Zoo was facing financial problems that endangered its ability to continue functioning. At that time India, as well as much of the rest of the world, was caught in a major financial depression. Given a depressed economy with shrinking budgets the zoo was facing possible liquidation. A member of the zoo's association hit upon an idea that provided sufficient revenue to halt the decline of the zoo's finances and guarantee it a steady cash flow. This cash inflow eventually enabled the zoo to pay its debts and emerge from its financial problems.

It is/was common folk belief among some Indians and other Asians that rhinoceros urine helps to maintain male virility and is a strong aphrodisiac. Rhinoceroses are not normally found in large numbers outside of Africa. For many years there was a prosperous and steady trade in rhinoceros urine from East Africa, home of the rhinoceros, to India and points east.

There was always some concern on the part of urine customers that the imported African rhinoceros urine was diluted to increase the volume available for sale. Much like some controlled narcotics are cut by middlemen today to increase their sales volume.

The story goes that this member, a Mr. Harry Squire, looked upon this medicinal use of rhinoceros urine as a possible product for sale. The Calcutta Zoo had several male rhinoceroses in reasonable health. He had the keepers train the animals so that at the sound of a gong the rhinoceros urinated into a bucket and a food reward was presented into the feed trough. The urine was then bottled for sale.

Prospective customers were allowed to watch the whole procedure from a safe distance to assure themselves that the product was not adulterated or diluted in any way. They got 100% pure Calcutta Zoo Rhinoceros Urine.

Sales of Calcutta Zoo Rhinoceros Urine rose to a steady volume and the profits obtained were sufficient to stabilize the Zoo's finances.

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Taken from Boarding Party, The Last Action of the Calcutta Light Horse, by James Leasor, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, 1979, Page 33. 

Created by Phil Abbey on 30 March 2001. Revised 15 February 2004. Comments to pr_abbey@hotmail.com.