Zoo

A zoo, or zoological garden, is a facility designed for the exhibition of animals.

These institutions serve several important roles in modern society. They provide spaces for public education and scientific study. Many zoos also focus on conservation, which involves breeding animals to protect their species. Some professionals now use new terms like "bio park" or "conservation park."

These names reflect a shift away from 19th-century concepts. The term "zoo" is a shortening of zoological garden. The word "zoology" comes from the Ancient Greek words for "animal" and "study of."

Before modern zoos existed, humans kept collections known as menageries.

These collections often served to symbolize the power of rulers. In Egypt, archaeologists discovered a menagerie at Hierakonpolis in 2009. This ancient collection included hippos, elephants, baboons, and wildcats. In the 11th century BC, King Ashur-bel-kala created botanical and zoological gardens. Many other leaders, such as King Solomon and Alexander the Great, kept animals. In England, King John I established a collection at the Tower of London in 1204.

These early sites were private and often meant for the elite.

During the Enlightenment, the purpose of animal collections began to change.

The Schönbrunn Zoo in Vienna is the oldest zoo still in existence. Adrian van Stekhoven built it in 1752 for Emperor Francis I. It was originally a private menagerie for the imperial court. However, it became accessible to the public in 1765. In 1795, the Jardin des Plantes in Paris established a zoo. This facility used animals from the Versailles menagerie for research and education. This era marked a move toward using animals for scientific discovery.

The 19th century saw the rise of the modern, public zoo.

The London Zoo is a primary example of this transition. The Zoological Society of London was founded in 1826 by Stamford Raffles. The zoo opened for scientific study in 1828 and for the public in 1847. It was designed to cater to the large population of London. This model of a city zoo was widely copied across the world. In 1853, the London Zoo even opened the world's first public aquarium. These institutions aimed to educate the general population through science.

A major change in zoo design occurred in Germany.

In 1907, Carl Hagenbeck founded the Tierpark Hagenbeck in Hamburg. He introduced a radical new way of building enclosures. Instead of using barred cages, he used open enclosures surrounded by moats. This design helped approximate the natural environments of the animals. He also created mixed-species exhibits. Rather than organizing animals by taxonomy, he organized them by geography. This approach changed how visitors experienced the natural world.

Zoos today manage massive numbers of animals and visitors.

In the United States, more than 181 million people visit zoos annually. Some facilities are incredibly diverse in their biological holdings. For example, the Wrocław Zoo in Poland houses about 10,500 animals. It contains approximately 1,132 different species. This zoo features the Africarium, a themed oceanarium for African fauna. It covers an area of over 33 hectares. These large-scale operations allow for deep study of complex ecosystems.

While zoos provide education, they also face significant scrutiny.

Animal welfare organizations have expressed concerns about zoo conditions. They look at how animals are housed and how visitors behave. These criticisms have led to efforts to improve animal care in recent decades. Some organizations have even rebranded to emphasize their mission. For instance, the New York Zoological Society became the Wildlife Conservation Society in 1993. They renamed their facilities "wildlife conservation parks" to reflect this focus. This evolution shows how the role of the zoo continues to change.