Antonius, Otto |
| ZOOLOGIST, PALEONTOLOGIST, ZOO DIRECTOR, (AUSTRIA) |
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BORN 21 May 1885, Wien - DIED 9 Apr 1945, Wien BIRTH NAME Antonius, Helmut Otto CAUSE OF DEATH suicide GRAVE LOCATION Wien: Evangelischer Pfarrfriedhof Simmering, 11., Simmeringer Hauptstraße 242 (Pfarrergrab, Nummer 006/007) |
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Otto Antonius was the son of a Protestant pastor from Transylvania. He studied zoology and paleontology at the University of Vienna. In 1910 he became a doctor in philosophy and in the next years he was a research assistant to Othenio Abel (1875-1946). In the First World War he was a first lieutenant and liaison officer in the army. He was not wounded and he was decorated several times. In 1919 he returned to the University and in 1922 he married Margarethe von Tunner. They had two children. From 1923 he worked for Schönbrunn Zoo. He became its scientific director in 1924 and its general director in 1925. The Zoo was in a bad shape after the War, but he managed to preserve it and restore the animal population. His modern ideas about zoos included that they should be used for breeding research and for animal psychology observations. He was co-editor of the "Zeitschrift für Tierpsychologie" ("Journal of Animal Psychology") and published frequently in "Der Zoologische Garten". Antonius also worked as a university lecturer and became an associate professor at the University of Vienna in 1931. In 1932 he joined the NSDAP and he lost his position in March 1934. He denied membership and sued against his dismissal. He won his case and returned to his position. After the Anschluss in 1938 he became the Vice President of the International Union of Directors of Zoological Gardens and he held this position until his death. After the bombing raids on Vienna in February 1945, he had spoken of suicide. On 9 April 1945 he killed himself, together with his wife. |
Sources • Otto Antonius - Wikipedia (DE) |
