London Zoo

London Zoo
Logo as it appears on 2021 online map
Map
51°32′08″N 00°09′21″W / 51.53556°N 0.15583°W / 51.53556; -0.15583
Date opened27 April 1828; 196 years ago (1828-04-27)
LocationRegent's Park
London, NW1
United Kingdom
Land area36 acres (15 ha)[1]
No. of animals19,289 (2018)[2]
No. of species673 (2018)
Annual visitors1,078,519 (2019)[6]
MembershipsBIAZA,[3] EAZA,[4] WAZA[5]
Major exhibitsGorilla Kingdom, Animal Adventure, Blackburn Pavilion, Clore Rainforest Lookout, Into Africa, Tiger territory, Land of the Lions and Penguin Beach.
Websitewww.londonzoo.org
Map Map

London Zoo, previously known as ZSL London Zoo or London Zoological Gardens and sometimes called Regent's Park Zoo, is the world's oldest scientific zoo.[7][8] It was opened in London on 27 April 1828,[9] and was originally intended to be used as a collection for scientific study. In 1831 or 1832, the animals of the Tower of London menagerie were transferred to the zoo's collection. It was opened to the public in 1847.[7] As of December 2022, it houses a collection of 14,926 individuals, making it one of the largest collections in the United Kingdom.[10][11]

It is managed under the aegis of the Zoological Society of London (established in 1826),[7] and is situated at the northern edge of Regent's Park, on the boundary line between the City of Westminster and the borough of Camden (the Regent's Canal runs through it).[12] The Society also has a more spacious site at Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire to which the larger animals such as elephants and rhinos have been moved.[13][14] As well as being the first scientific zoo, London Zoo also opened the first reptile house (1849), the first public aquarium (1853),[15] first insect house (1881) and the first children's zoo (1938).

ZSL receives no state funding and relies on 'Fellows' and 'Friends' memberships, entrance fees, venue hire, and sponsorship to generate income.[16][17]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference corporate-events was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Animal inventory". Zoological Society of London (ZSL).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference biaza_list was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference eaza_list was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference waza_list was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "ALVA - Association of Leading Visitor Attractions". www.alva.org.uk. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  7. ^ a b c "ZSL's History". ZSL. Archived from the original on 28 February 2008. Retrieved 5 March 2008.
  8. ^ Waliczek, Tina Marie (6 January 2016). Urban Horticulture. CRC Press. p. 150. doi:10.1201/b19618. ISBN 9781482261004. OCLC 1002261405. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  9. ^ "April 27". Today in Science History. Retrieved 5 March 2008.
  10. ^ "ZSL Animal Inventory" (PDF). ZSL. 31 December 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  11. ^ "Archive" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 March 2023.
  12. ^ "Google Maps". Retrieved 5 March 2008.
  13. ^ "London elephants to join friends at Whipsnade". ZSL. 30 October 2001. Archived from the original on 5 December 2008. Retrieved 5 March 2008.
  14. ^ "Elephants leave London". BBC News. 1 November 2001. Retrieved 5 March 2008.
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference aquarium-history was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  16. ^ "Volunteering at London Zoo and Whipsnade Wild Animal Park" (PDF). ZSL. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 April 2008. Retrieved 5 March 2008.
  17. ^ "London Zoo". Good Zoos. Archived from the original on 8 May 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2008.