I have known the thrill of having a rattlesnake cuddle trustfully in my arms, and the soft touch of a gorilla's tongue on my cheek. Hairy, scaly, leather-covered -- they are all mine and I love them, every one.
- Belle Jennings Benchley -
Born on this day in 1882

Divorced, with a young son to support, Belle started working at the San Diego Zoo in 1925, as a bookkeeper. When she would tell her boss about a problem with one of the animals and such, his usual reply would be "Well, do something about it." And, she did.

In 1927, after making many changes and raising funds for various improvements, she was made executive secretary and director of the zoo.

She was the first to use moats to separate animals from viewers and insisted that each animal have a private place, out of view of the public, for a retreat.

She opened the field to women, hiring some of the first female keepers in the nation.

She retired in 1952 and was given a three month round the world tour of the world's zoos as a retirement gift, as it had ever been her goal to visit them all. She died in 1973 at the age of 91.