The management of the Warsaw Zoo provided a unique vantage point for Jan Żabiński during the German occupation, as he utilized the empty animal enclosures to shelter hundreds of displaced individuals. As a scientist and administrator, he navigated the collapse of institutional structures while maintaining clandestine operations to preserve human life amidst the systematic destruction of the Polish capital.
Academic and Professional Foundation
Born in Warsaw in 1897, Jan Żabiński pursued a career as a zoologist, physiologist, and agricultural engineer. He completed his education at the University of Warsaw, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, and the Warsaw University of Life Sciences. He began his tenure at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences, where he focused on zoology. By 1929, he had become the director of the Warsaw Zoo, a position he held for a decade until the outbreak of World War II. During this period, he supervised the 1937 birth of Tuzinka, one of the few elephants born in captivity at that time.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Wartime Activities and Resistance
Following the 1939 German invasion of Warsaw, Żabiński assumed the role of superintendent of the city's public parks. This position granted him access to the Warsaw Ghetto, where he maintained contact with colleagues and friends. Alongside his wife, Antonina, and their son, Ryszard, he converted the abandoned cages and their private residence on the zoo grounds into a sanctuary for hundreds of Jewish refugees. As an active member of the Polish Home Army, he held the rank of lieutenant and participated in the 1944 Warsaw Uprising. Following the suppression of the revolt, he was captured and held as a prisoner of war.
Post-war Career and Recognition
After his liberation, Żabiński returned to the Warsaw Zoo, resuming his directorship until 1951. He remained an active voice in his field, joining the State Commission for the Preservation of Nature and authoring approximately 60 popular science books. His contributions to both zoology and humanitarian efforts were formally recognized in 1965 when he and his wife were named Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem. He was later awarded the Commander with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta. He died in Warsaw in 1974 and is buried at Powązki Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1897, Warsaw
- Died: 1974, Warsaw
- Primary Occupations: Zoologist, Physiologist, Agricultural Engineer
- Education: Warsaw University of Life Sciences, University of Warsaw, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University
- Military Rank: Lieutenant, Home Army
- Award: Righteous Among the Nations (1965)
- Award: Commander with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta
- Burial Site: Powązki Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What was Jan Żabiński's profession?
He was a zoologist, physiologist, and agricultural engineer who served as the director of the Warsaw Zoo.
Why was Jan Żabiński recognized as Righteous Among the Nations?
He and his wife, Antonina, were honored for using their home and the zoo facilities to shelter hundreds of Jews during the Holocaust.
Achievements
- Held posts at Warsaw University of Life Sciences
- Educated at Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, University of Warsaw and Warsaw University of Life Sciences
- Fields of research: zoologist
.jpg)