The History of Zoos
A
Zoos, as quintessentially modern as they may seem, are actually embedded in a history of animal captivity that spans back thousands of years. A discovery during excavations near Hierakonopolis, Egypt—once Egypt’s largest urban centre—revealed the remains of hippos, elephants, baboons and wildcats buried in the ancient city’s elite cemetery. Dating back to around 3500 BC, the remains point to the existence of what at that time was known as a menagerie, a private collection of animals owned by the wealthy elite to demonstrate power, to intimidate enemies, to entertain rulers and their guests, and to hunt in controlled settings.
B
This concept of a menagerie remained popular in Egypt and elsewhere for quite some time. Queen Hatshepsut of Egypt, who ruled around 1500 BC and who was the first powerful woman in recorded history, kept a menagerie of animals acquired during supply-trading expeditions to Punt, in present-day Somalia. Around the same time over in China, emperor Wen Wang founded the Garden of Intelligence in 1000 BC that included a huge collection of animals kept on a 1,500-acre property. However, unlike the menageries of Ancient Egypt, the Garden of Intelligence—with its animals housed in metal cages on display in park-like surrounding—started to resemble the zoos of today in that it’s main purpose alluded more to education than to the display of power.
C
Historians also know that menageries were a central part of the Aztec culture of South America between the 14th and 16th centuries. When Spanish explorer Hernan Cortes reached the New World in 1520, he discovered a huge collection of animals at Tenochtitland, the capital of Aztec ruler Montezuma. More than 300 people were assigned to care for the ruler’s extensive collection of animals, reputed to be the greatest royal menagerie in history. The complex in which the animals lived was impressive enough in its own right, with two main houses, a botanical garden and an aquarium that boasted 10 saltwater and 10 freshwater ponds. Unfortunately, the facilities and the animals housed within them were subsequently destroyed by the Spanish expedition.
D
Several hundred years later, in the 18th century, there was a shift that ushered in the era of the modern zoo. Europe in the 18th century was undergoing the Age of Enlightenment, a period in European history when science, reason and logic were promoted as ideals of both society and government. This scientific focus extended to zoology as well, and an interest in studying animal behavior and anatomy for scientific reasons developed. In order to conduct such research, scientists knew they had to keep animals in places that were close to, or resembled, the animals’ natural habitats. They also knew that these collections would require sustainable funding, which could be garnered by making the zoos accessible to the public for a reasonable fee. This both alleviated funding pressures and aligned with the Enlightenment emphasis on education.
E
The first of these modern zoos was the Tiergarten Schonbrunn, opened in Vienna, Austria in 1752. It was initially built for the imperial family and court, but was made accessible to the general public in 1779. Then in 1793, another zoo opened in Paris, France. The previous menageries of French aristocrats, including those of the king and queen, were captured by the leaders of the French Revolution and the animals subsequently relocated to the Menagerie du Jardin des Plantes in Paris. It was the largest exotic animal collection of its time in Europe and offered free admission in the interest of public education. Both of these early modern zoos still exist today.
F
In the 1800s, zoos evolved even further. The London Zoo that opened in 1828 set up a new template for modern zoos with its taxonomic displays, wrought iron, barren cages, and fancy buildings. Then in 1853 the addition of the first public aquarium—called The Fish House—started a trend of combining land animals and sea life for the ultimate wildlife experience. And in 1874 the first modern zoo outside of London opened in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania after a 15-year delay due to the American civil war, setting the stage for zoo culture in North America.
G
But perhaps the most significant turning point in zoo history was in 1907 with the opening of the Tierpark Hagenbeck in Hamburg, Germany. This zoo was the first to combine naturalistic landscapes, bar-less enclosures and groups of mixed species, with moats rather than cages used to separate animals. The zoo was the vision of Carl Hagenbeck, a lifelong merchant of wild animals who was the supplier to many European zoos. He had long dreamed of being able to create a permanent exhibit where animals could live in their natural surroundings, and was finally able to realise that dream with the creation of Tierpark Hagenbeck. Not only was the zoo immensely popular, attracting as many as one million visitors per year, but his approach to zoo architecture started what is now referred to as the Hagenbeck revolution and that has guided zoo design ever since.