History of Zoos

By batmantimetable
  • 2500 BCE

    Ancient Egypt - Small Collection

    Viewed animals as pets, a status symbol or personal entertainment.
  • 2000 BCE

    Ancient China - Walled parks

    Large parks with walls to keep animals in, status symbol and entertainment for paying visitors or guests.
  • 27 BCE

    Ancient Rome - Coliseums

    Used for collections and fighting, creating entertainment and betting with status for winning owners.
  • 1100

    Royal Menagerie

    Kept by Henry I, often full of gifted animals from other countries.
  • 1500

    Elizabeth I - Leopard display

    Elizabeth the first had many animals displays, a famous one being the Leopard display at the tower of London or her trained Zebras used to pull her carriage.

  • The first Zoo - Late 1600's

    Credited to the Versailles, the creation of the first Zoo was mostly for human entertainment as they had never seen exotic creatures before, sterile environments of concrete cages.

  • Scientific Zoo

    London zoo was the first zoo created primarily for the scientific study of animals, learning diets, behaviours and differences.

  • Medical study

    Dublin Zoo was the first zoo created primarily for medical study of animals, learning common illnesses, medical requirements and anatomy of exotic animals.

  • Central park

    First and only zoo within the capital New York, planned to be a scientific zoo

  • Conservation and Education

    Jersey Zoo was the first Zoo built primarily for conservation of endangered animals and education to the general public

  • BIAZA

    The BIAZA was formed, creating a breeding program for endangered animals to help conserve them.