London Zoo

London Zoo is the world's oldest scientific zoo. Located at the northern edge of Regent's Park, it sits on the boundary of the City of Westminster and the borough of Camden. The zoo was established to serve as a collection for scientific study. It is managed by the Zoological Society of London, which was founded in 1826.

Today, the zoo remains a vital center for biology and conservation. It houses one of the largest collections of animals in the United Kingdom.

The zoo's history began with the work of Sir Stamford Raffles and Sir Humphry Davy. Raffles was a primary driving force behind the project. He obtained the land for the zoo before he died in July 1826. After his death, Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, the 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne, supervised the construction of the first animal houses. The zoo opened to members of the Society in April 1828. It eventually opened to the general public in 1847 to help generate necessary funding.

For many years, the zoo managed animals using indoor enclosures. Experts believed tropical species could not survive the cold London climate. This changed in 1902 when Peter Chalmers Mitchell became the Society's secretary. Mitchell reorganized the zoo by creating open enclosures for many animals. This new approach was inspired by the Hamburg Zoo. This shift allowed many species to thrive in more natural settings. Mitchell also helped establish Whipsnade Wild Animal Park in 1931, which was the world's first open zoological park.

London Zoo has been a pioneer in many different types of animal exhibits. It opened the world's first reptile house in 1849. In 1853, it opened the first public aquarium. This aquarium was created by Philip Henry Gosse, who actually coined the term "aquarium." The zoo also opened its first insect house in 1881. Much later, in 1938, it opened its first children's zoo. These innovations helped change how people interact with and learn about different species.

During the Second World War, the zoo faced significant challenges. The government ordered the zoo to close multiple times starting in September 1939. To keep them safe, valuable animals were moved to Whipsnade Zoo. High explosive bombs damaged several buildings, including the Zebra house and the Camel House. The aquarium also stayed closed for a long time due to extensive bombing. Although no animals were harmed, some animals like a zebra and a female ass escaped during the raids. For safety, all venomous animals were killed during this period.

The zoo manages a massive and diverse collection of life. As of December 2022, it housed 14,926 individual animals. This collection includes 673 different species. The breakdown includes 70 mammal species, 99 bird species, and 49 reptile species. There are also 20 amphibian species, 207 fish species, and 228 invertebrate species.

The zoo features many specialized areas. These include the Land of the Lions, which covers 2,500 square metres. There is also the Gorilla Kingdom, which houses western lowland gorillas. Other areas like Monkey Valley and Tiger Territory provide specialized habitats for different groups.

Conservation and international cooperation are central to the zoo's modern mission. In 1962, the zoo participated in the first international co-operative breeding programme. This involved lending an Arabian oryx named Caroline to the Phoenix Zoo in Arizona. Today, London Zoo participates in breeding programmes for over 130 different species. This work helps protect animals that might otherwise face extinction. The zoo also relies on various revenue streams to fund this work. These include entrance fees, venue hire, sponsorship, and memberships from "Fellows" and "Friends."