Beijing Zoo, Beijing, China
Founded in 1906 during the Qing dynasty, the Beijing Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in China. The zoo also houses a research centre that studies rare animals from all around the world. It is home to over 950 land and marine animals, and is known for its collection of Chinese animal species including the giant panda, which tourists flock to the Beijing Zoo to catch a glimpse of. The zoo is beautifully decorated and closely resembles the grounds of a royal Chinese garden.
Berlin Zoological Garden, Berlin, Germany
Being the oldest zoo in all of Germany, the Berlin Zoo has survived destruction caused by World War II and has been reconstructed to carefully imitate the natural habitats of the surviving animals. This zoo is today the most popular one in Europe, and continuously collaborates with universities and research centres to promote breeding programmes and help to preserve endangered species. Knut, the polar bear, and Bao Bao, the giant panda, have become the animal icons of this place over the years.
Bronx Zoo, New York, USA
The Bronx Zoo is known throughout the world for its diversity of animal exhibits and its avid participation in wildlife preservation attempts. The Wildlife Conservation Society occasionally holds events such as its Run for the Wild fun run here to educate the public about animal protection. The Bronx Zoo is the largest metropolitan zoo in the USA and one of the biggest zoos in the world.
London Zoo, London, England
Originally intended as a scientific research centre for animals, the London Zoo opened its doors to the public in 1847, making it one of the oldest zoos in the world. The zoo houses the first of many things, including the first reptile house, the first public aquarium, the first insect house and the first children's zoo. Remember the scene in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone where Harry talked to a snake for the first time in the zoo? That scene was filmed in the reptile house of this very zoo!
Philadelphia Zoo, Pennsylvania, USA
This zoo was the first zoo to be built in the USA, and is one of the first to breed animals found difficult to breed in captivity, making it a very significant place for wildlife conservation. It is home to many rare and endangered species, and works to conserve the natural habitats of many animals around the world.
San Diego Zoo, California, USA
The San Diego Zoo is known for being one of the first zoos in the world to take on the concept of open-air, cageless exhibits in order to imitate the natural habitats of its resident animals. It is also one of the few zoos that has successfully housed and bred the giant panda. It has won many awards for its conservation efforts, and has also reintroduced more than 30 endangered species into the wild.
Schönbrunn Zoo, Vienna, Austria
If you're a history buff, this place will intrigue you as it is the oldest zoo in the world that opened to the public in 1752. It was created as an imperial menagerie on the grounds of the famous Schönbrunn Palace, and preserves many of its buildings from the baroque era that makes this zoo a beautiful place to walk around in. It has since dedicated itself to species conservation and research.
Singapore Zoo, Singapore
The Singapore Zoo located in the heart of the Mandai rainforest is another open-air, cageless zoo that makes use of moats and elevated platforms to separate the animals from visitors, while maintaining a natural habitat for the animals to enjoy. It is most famous for its orangutans, housing the largest captive colony in the world. It is a rather new attraction that offers extremely entertaining animal shows for the whole family to watch and enjoy.
National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
Here, you'll find interesting and exotic animals iconic to the South African wildlife, such as cheetahs and rhinoceroses. It is one of the highest-rated zoos in the world and continues to attact tourists year after year. The zoo is so large, you can rent a golf buggy or take a cable car to enjoy the sights if you're tired of walking.
Toronto Zoo, Ontario, Canada
You can find all sorts of animals here at Toronto Zoo, whether you're into unusual animal species or species closer to home. It is constantly taking part in conservation programmes and helping to preserve endangered species through captive breeding. It has also been recycling cellphones since 2006 to reduce the demand of minerals taken from the natural habitats of the Lowland gorilla, and is today the top cellphone recycler among participating wildlife organisations in North America.
