Oldest Zoos in the World
The first zoo in the world was set up in the mid-18th century. The next century saw the advent of zoos all across the globe. The list of world’s oldest zoos includes both exotic gardens, where visitors can feed lions and giraffes, and European-style zoological parks, which combine historical landmarks with novel approaches.
10. 1899
National Zoological Gardens of South Africa – Pretoria, South Africa
Fauna – 3,117 animals of 715 species
Total area – 85 hectares
Visitors per year – over 600,000
The National Zoological Gardens of South Africa were established by Dr. Haagner, director of the Staatsmuseum. On his initiative, a collection of birds and several mammals, which had been kept in the museum’s backyard, were transferred to the land, bought out by the government with the view to setting up a zoo and a farm. As the zoo didn’t have enough funds to buy animals, the land was used as a transit point for animals that were on their way to Europe and America. Thus, residents of Pretoria were able to see with their own eyes many exotic animals. Today, the zoo gives shelter to mostly African species. The Zoological Gardens of South Africa was the first zoo to witness the birth of a captive white rhino pup. The zoo offers special night tours, during which visitors can watch the lions, elephants or even red pandas. Visitors can set out on a night tour, accompanied by a guide who will show them around, or stay overnight in a tent on the park’s territory and enjoy the sounds of nature.
9. 1889
Smithsonian’s National Zoo – Washington, D.C.
Fauna – 2,000 animals of 400 species
Total area – 65 hectares
Visitors per year – over 2,000,000
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo was established for the purpose of keeping and preserving the vanishing native species. At that time, the zoo kept several North American bison and other rare animals. Nowadays, the zoo harbours a variety of fauna (from ants to elephants), as well as a wide range of landscapes (from tropical forests to indigenous woodlands).
8. 1889
Korkeassari Zoo – Helsinki, Finland
Fauna – over 2,000 animals of 200 species
Total area – 22 hectares
Korkeassari Zoo was established by Lieutenant August Fabricius on the island that bore the same name. The first inhabitants of the zoo were brown and polar bears. The zoo’s animal collection expanded rapidly. Only one year after its opening, the zoo numbered 90 animals belonging to 40 different species. Spacious enclosures and open-air cages provide natural conditions that are very similar to those animals and birds are found in in the wild. Flamingos and peacocks show off their beauty on open-air lawns, unprotected by any kind of enclosures. Animals can be watched from almost any spot – there zoo is equipped with special observation points, located on the island rocks, as well as with tourist alleys stretching past animal enclosures.
7. 1882
Ueno Zoological Gardens – Tokyo, Japan
Fauna – over 2,600 animals of 464 species
Total area – 14.3 hectares
Ueno Zoo is the oldest and the most famous zoo in Japan. The zoo’s traditional Japanese colouring is created by a pagoda temple and a tea house. The zoo is home to scores of animals, including the gigantic salamander, rare pheasant species and wallabies. Visit the Gorilla Forest or the Tiger Forest, and you will find yourself in the close vicinity to these amazing and truly wild creatures. Don’t worry, you will not be in danger – all animals live in safe enclosures. In 1972, the Japanese zoo offered shelter to several panda bears, which had been a present from China, celebrating the beginning of diplomatic relations between the two countries. (In fact, all panda bears are considered a national treasure in China). Unfortunately, the last panda in Ueno Zoo died in 2008, but already in March 2011 the zoo welcomed two new panda bears, which have been leased to the zoo.
6. 1864
Basel Zoo – Basel, Switzerland
Fauna – 6,000 animals of over 600 species
Total area – 12 hectares
Visitors per year – about 1,000,000
Located right in the heart of the city, Basel Zoo is famous for the diversity of rare animal species it harbours. In the zoo’s African park, visitors can see hippos, ostriches and zebras living side by side. The antelope enclosure is home to giraffes, okapi and East African kudu. The Etosha enclosure is the abode of predators, such as lions, cheetah and many others. But the zoo’s drawcard is its vivarium –there visitors could trace back the evolution of life on Earth.
5. 1864
Moscow Zoo – Moscow, Russia
Fauna – about 8,000 animals of 1,030 species and subspecies
Total area – 21.5 hectares
Visitors per year – about 4,500,000
The Moscow Zoo was established by the Imperial Russian Society for the Acclimatisation of Animals and Plants. Today, visitors of the Moscow Zoo can explore various pavilions, such as the House of Birds, Tropic Cats, the Monkey House, the Giraffe House, Tropical Ungulates, Polar world, as well as the pavilion for waterfowl and the swimming pool for pinniped species. The zoo also features the Animal Island section, which comprises an exotarrium. The Moscow Zoo boasts world’s biggest collection of poisonous snakes.
4. 1844
Berlin Zoo – Berlin, Germany
Fauna – 13,900 animals of 1,400 species
Total area – 34.8 hectares
Visitors per year – over 2,500,000
Berlin Zoo was the first zoo to open in Germany. The zoo was severely damaged during World War II. As a result of bombings, the zoo’s collection of animals reduced from 3,715 to just 91 specimens. Among the most interesting sections of the zoo is the Alfred Brehm House, which is the most beautiful and up-to-date predator enclosure in Europe. It includes open-air tiger and lion cages, hiding in the rocks, pavilions with tropical plants and exotic birds, and enclosures housing birds of prey. The rocks also shelter brown bears, while the caves are home to American back bears. Camels, lamas, bison, aurochs, gibbons and other large mammals live a carefree life within the confines of the section.
The nearby three-storey Aquarium is home to various species of fish, amphibians, insects and reptiles. It also houses a separate section dedicated to crocs.
3. 1831
Dublin Zoo – Dublin, Ireland
Fauna – over 600 species
Area – 28 hectares
Visitors per year – about 1,000,000
Dublin Zoo was established in 1931 by the Royal Zoological Society of Ireland- only a year after the launch of the Society itself. Back then, a number of animals for Dublin Zoo were transferred from London Zoo. Dublin Zoo is located in Phoenix Park in Dublin. Visitors can walk around the zoo in the company of peacocks, herons and swans, which roam freely along the tourist paths. Dublin Zoo is divided into several areas, including World of Primates, World of Cats, City Farm (featuring domestic animals), etc. The area named African Plains features some of the largest inhabitants of the African savanna – giraffes, elephants, hippos, rhinos and many other species. Dublin Zoo is home to one of the most famous lion in the world, Leo the Lion. Its iconic roar has become the trademark of all Metro Goldwyn Meyer movies.
2. 1828
London Zoo – London, Great Britain
Fauna – 5,000 animals of 750 species
Total area – 17 hectares
Visitors per year – about 2,000,000
London Zoo is dubbed to be the oldest scientific zoo in the world. It was established in 1828 as a zoological collection for scientific research. What’s unusual about the zoo is that there are no metal cages, separating the animals from visitors. For instance, the Rainforest Life section recreates the real tropical forest, and visitors can get an insight into the life in a tropical forest from above, by walking on specially-designed suspension alleys. The B.U.G.S. section – Biodiversity Underpinning Global Survival – offers an insight into an amazing diversity of life forms (more than 140 species). Here, among other things, visitors can see leaf-cutting ants, Mexican red-kneeled bird-eating spiders, colourful flower bugs, anteaters and Malaysian giant leaf insects.
However, the zoo’s collection is mainly comprised of invertebrate species, which make up 98% of all known living creatures.
1. 1760
Tiergarten Zoo – Schönbrunk park, Vienna, Austria
Fauna – 4,600 animals of 480 species
Total area – 17 hectares
Visitors per year – about 2,000,000
Tiergarten Zoo was established in 1760 as a Royal Menagerie. It kept animals offered as gifts by the monarchs of the ally states. In 2010, the zoo was recognised as the best zoo in Europe. The Polarium section includes various Arctic fauna, and the recreated island of Borneo boasts a real tropical climate – it’s hot and humid, with heavy drops of rain or even thunderstorm. The island is overgrown with colourful orchids, mangrove forests and miniature rice plantations. Exotic butterflies flutter about in several greenhouses. Tiergarten Zoo is one of the few zoos, sheltering cub-bearing pandas.
