Zoo History Timeline

In the Mesopotamian region flourishing city-states developed along the Tigris and Euphrate rivers. This area was suitable for agriculture but lacked resources to sustain other technologies. Thus, trade developed over time, and with increasing prosperity the Mesopotamian merchants started trading wild exotic animals as well. These animals became part of animal collections of royalty and wealthy individuals, the one even more impressive than the other. Royalty kept lions and other animals, such as ibis, cranes, herons, pelicans, elephants, ostriches, gazelle and ibex, for exhibition purposes. Royal lions were kept in cages and pits during the Third Dynasty of Ur around 2100 BCE.

Under the rule of Hatshepsut, the only Egyptian female pharaoh, ambitious and famous expeditions took place to the Land of Punt, in present-day Somalia, between 1510 and 1490 BCE. Many trade goods were bought in Punt, and Egypt had a new supply of myrrh, trees, ebony, ivory, gold, cinnamon, incense, eye paint, skins of southern panthers, and live animals. Like many civilizations that accumulate wealth, Hatshepsut took an interest in exotic animals and ordered to collect live animals, too. The animals brought to Egypt from Punt included apes, monkeys, birds, greyhounds, cattle, leopards, cheetahs, rhinoceroses, and giraffes. They formed the largest known animal collection in Egypt to that time. It is unknown how the animals were housed or maintained, despite the fact that the greatness of the acquisitions was depicted in murals.

In China it was during periods of unification (the dynasties) that significant animal collections, including exotic species, were developed. These collections served the practical purpose of ritiual sacrifice as well as aesthetical purposes for the wealthy class. These animals were kept in parks or breeding grounds. It started with the Shang dynasty (1600-1050 BCE), but the first well-known animal reserve was created by the founder of the Zhou dynasty (1550-221 BCE), Wen Wang. These animal reserves or parks were large, walled-in natural areas that required their own staffs of administrators, keepers and veterinarians.

The Greek interest in science reflected their attitude towards animals which went beyond observational knowledge. Animals played a central role in their culture and mythology, and their animal collections during this period were not just about displaying power, but also about understanding the animal kingdom. Due to the military campaigns into Asia by Alexander the Great, the Greek not only expanded their territory significantly but their curiosity horizon as well. Alexander sent many exotic animals back to Aristotle. Philosophers like Aristotle studied animals for scientific purposes, and his writings indicate a rudimentary approach to zoology. Whether the animals remained alive and maintained in collections is still unknown.

Early Roman Republic baiting (around 500 BCE), where animals were used to attack another animal, evolved into increasingly elaborate spectacles called venationes. These type of public spectacles featured contests between beasts or between men (prisoners) and beasts staged in an amphitheatre, usually in connection with gladiator shows. Lions, hyenas, leopards, giraffes, and rhinos entered the arena and were, in most cases, killed. The scale of this slaughter was enormous, with over 9,000 animals being ordered, transported and killed for a single event: the inauguration of the Colosseum in Rome in 80 CE. The animals must have been sourced from animal collections, but not much has been written about how and where the animals were kept. When the animals were not scheduled for fighting, they were used in yearly parades honouring those who passed away.

When the Islamic caliphate expanded (ca. 622-1492 CE), gardens and parks that were influenced by the Persian re-creations of the Garden of Eden were introduced in conquered territories. Although natural sciences, unlike other sciences, were not considered important by the Arabs, animal collections were kept in those parks. For instance Abderrahman III (912-961 CE) established an animal park in the city of Zahra north of Cordoba, Spain. Here, animals were kept in cages and fenced enclosures. These Arab collections continued through the Medieval and into the Renaissance period. During both periods, animals were exchanged between European and Muslim rulers.

Aztec and Inca civilizations were continuations of Americas’ earlier civilizations that may be as old as those of the Old World. They reached their heights and flourished between 1400 and 1500 CE. The Aztecs were well-structured and traded throughout the Americas. Extensive gardens and royal forests contained impressive animal collections. The Aztec emperor Montezuma II, in what is today Mexico, maintained one of the earliest animal collections in the Western Hemisphere. It was destroyed by Hernan Cortes during the Spanish conquest in 1520, who left in writing detailed descriptions of the beauty and value of what he destroyed. The Incas, like the Aztecs, had animal collections and gardens, both real and artificial. No detailed information on these collections was left by Pizarro, who conquered the Inca civilization.

The Age of Enlightenment in Europe was an intellectual and philosophical movement in the 17th and 18th century during which new ideas and world views were developed. There was a surge for intellectual and scientific progress, which fundamentally changed the interaction of mankind with the natural world. It was during this era that the concept of the zoo became more than merely a public spectacle. There was more attention for the study and conservation of animals and nature in general.

Menagerie du Jardin des Plantes in Paris founded.

Many cities in Europe and North America followed by establishing their own zoo, responding to people’s growing fascination with exotic places and animal, and often inspired by the model of London Zoo. Hence, the role of the zoo altered, and the zoo became a place where education, research, and leisure converged, allowing people from all backgrounds to engage with and learn about nature, specifically the animal world.

America’s first zoo, Philadelphia Zooopened its gates to the public on 1 July 1874.

Hagenbeck Tierpark in Hamburg was founded by Carl Hagenbeck and opened its gates to the public on 7 May.

Both World Wars had a rather devastating effect on zoos, especially in Western Europe. Lack of staff, food, feed and fuel, and destruction by bombs led to a decreased number of species and specimens, let alone that hungry citizens went after the zoo animals.

WAZA, founded in 1935 during the interbellum, is the "umbrella" organization for the world zoo and aquarium community.

During the 1980s and 1990s many individual zoos started to put more emphasis on the role of conservation in their activities. Jersey Wildlife Park (now Durrell Zoo) was one of the pioneers of this new kind of zoo which kept wild animals primarily for conservation purposes, identifying a threefold purpose of biological study, captive breeding for reintroduction, and education and training, all focussed on actively supporting the survival of threatened species.

The zoo world acknowledged that continuation of sourcing endangered species from the wild would be counterproductive in the end. This caused a shift in zoo policy worldwide, knowing that diversity of animals in the wild was at stake made breeding of endangered species in zoos necessary. Maintaining the diversity of the animal kingdom became the main driver for many zoos. In addition, they understood they had to work together to make breeding endangered species in zoos a success. Taking part in breeding programmes is a requirement to be member of a continental zoo organisation and/or the global zoo organisation WAZA.

In the 1960s the California condor was facing extinction due to the destruction of habitat, poaching, and lead poisoning. In 1982 it was decided - when only 22 birds remained in the wild - that all the remaining condors would be brought in for protection and captive breeding. San Diego Zoo Global was given permission to begin the California Condor Recovery Project. The programme involved the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California Department of Fish and Game, the National Audubon Society, and the Los Angeles Zoo. The project became one of the best examples of recovery programmes of endangered species. Already in 1991 they started to release captive-bred condors into their native habitat, and within 20 years the population of California condors grew to almost 200 birds. It required development of techniques to avoid the condor chicks to know they were actually hand-raised by humans. In October 2014, the total population of California condors was 425, of which 219 living in the wild. Today, captive-bred condors have been successfully released into the wild in Arizona, and Baja California, Mexico. More than 50 California condors now join the population every year, and more importantly 12 to 15 chicks now hatch in the wild annually.

The last record of an individual of the Socorro dove in its natural habitat, Socorro Island on the Revillagigedo Archipelago (Mexico), was in 1972. Nonetheless, it took the IUCN 12 years to officially declare the Socorro dove extinct in the wild. The decline and extinction in the wild of this species is caused by human predation, high levels of understorey grazing by sheep, and predation by feral cats. However, doves that were brought to California in 1925 allowed for captive breeding in the USA and later in Europe. Today, facilities in Europe, the United States, and now Mexico breed Socorro Doves in their aviaries as part of the globally managed breeding programme. Currently there are circa 150 birds in captivity. Reintroduction of the species in the wild on Socorro Island requires careful planning, because habitat destruction and predation must be avoided at all times.

In zoos and umbrella organisations on regional and global level, advancing technology and knowledge are taken into account in policies and budgeting. Money is used for hands-on research for developing better husbandry and care systems next to conservation projects on location for better understanding of the causes and consequences of the degradation of natural habitats on wildlife populations. The ultimate goal of research collaboration between zoos, research institutions and universities is to preserve the species at stake.

By addressing biodiversity conservation via research and educational efforts, zoos become important players in the implementation of global biodiversity strategies. They contribute to the achievement of targets set by international agreements like the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By participating in these global efforts, zoos help to address critical issues such as habitat loss, climate change, and species extinction.