Historical Zoos

Connected Sites

Site Rationale Link
Ancient Thebes Egyptian Queen Hatshepsut established a zoo in Thebes around 1490 BC
Great Spa Towns of Europe Františkovy Lázně: "Following the American trend, a zoo was also established in [Loimann's Park], and so the forest park began to be known as America." (Nomination File, p. 64, 101, 134)
Medici Villas and Gardens Lorenzo De' Medici had a zoo at his Villa in Poggio a Caiano, "composed of lions, dromedary, cheetah, giraffe and an Arab"
Medina Azahara literary sources indicate the presence of amenities such as a zoo (AB ev)
Mexico City and Xochimilco Tenochtitlan: two zoos in the palace of Moctezuma
Naples Stazione zoologica Anton Dohrn (1872) - the oldest aquarium of Italy
Paris, Banks of the Seine Ménagerie du Jardin des plantes
Paseo del Prado and Buen Retiro House of Beasts of Retiro Park
Potsdam Peacock Island had a menagerie modelled after Versailles after whose peacocks the island was named.
Schönbrunn Menagerie of the Habsburgs: oldest existing zoo (1752)
Singapore Botanic Gardens from 1875 - 1913 SBG was the main zoo of the Straits Settlements
Tower of London Royal Menagerie from the 13th century until 1835
Versailles Menagerie during the reign of Louis XIV

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