Oldest Zoo

Which zoo is the oldest? I always thought it was Schönbrunn Zoo in Austria but people are telling me it is Cincinnati Zoo in America. What about London zoo?

 

Vernon Kisling in his Zoo and Aquarium History; Ancient Animal Collections to Zoological Gardens has lists in the back of the dates of zoos in each country.

So here are some:

Great Britain:
London Zoo (1828)
Dublin Zoo (1831)

Western Europe:
Schonbrunn (1752)
Menagerie du Jardin des Plantes (1793)
Natura Artis Magistra (1838)
Berlin Zoo (1844)

Australia:
Melbourne (1861)

United States:
Philadelphia Zoo (1874) although the Society was founded in 1859
Central Park Zoo - New York (1861)
Lincoln Park Zoo (1868)
Cincinnati Zoo (1875 ) - also Buffalo, NY and Ross Park Zoo, NY same year

 

The reason some people say that London is the oldest zoo, is because it was the first zoo in the world founded for the scientific purpose of studying wildlife. So in some ways it's the first zoo in the meaning that the word has today.

Tiergarten Schönbrunn in Wienna is by many considered to be the world's oldest zoo. It was originally a menagerie owned by (I think) the emperor.

 

And apparently, what rates Schönbrunn to the head of the list is that while other monarchs had menageries for centuries, this was the first that was open (free) to the public

 

Also the fact that's it's the only one still in extistence as a modern zoo today.

 

Yes, Toddy, that is a rather essential requirement! Thanks

 

Most of the realy old zoos in western Europe were in capital city`s the exception been the 5th oldest which i believe is Bristol.

 

Thanks to all.

 

That was a really interesting book...

If I remember correctly (when I got it out of the library) it talked alot about Rome and its history with wild animals...