Zoo | Animals & Facts

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sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref8133"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/science/zoo/Procurement-and-care-of-animals">Procurement and care of animals</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref8134"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/science/zoo/Procurement-and-care-of-animals#ref8134">Funding</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li></ul> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://www.britannica.com/science/zoo/additional-info">References & Edit History</a> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="/facts/zoo">Quick Facts & Related Topics</a> </div> <div class="tlr-media-slider pb-10 mb-30"> <a class="section-header link-gray-900 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mb-10 mx-10" href="https://www.britannica.com/science/zoo/images-videos">Images & Videos</a> 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Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). </div> <div class="type-menu"> <label for="feedback-type" class="label mb-10">Feedback Type</label> <select id="feedback-type" class="form-select mb-30" name="feedbackTypeId" required> <option value="" selected="selected">Select a type (Required)</option> <option value="1">Factual Correction</option> <option value="2">Spelling/Grammar Correction</option> <option value="3">Link Correction</option> <option value="4">Additional Information</option> <option value="5">Other</option> </select> </div> <label for="feedback" class="label mb-10">Your Feedback</label> <textarea id="feedback" class="form-control mb-30" name="feedback" maxlength="3000" rows="7" required></textarea> <button class="btn btn-blue" type="submit">Submit Feedback</button> </form> <div class="success-messaging d-none mt-30"> <div class="title">Thank you for your feedback</div> <p>Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="md-websites-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif pb-15 border-bottom font-weight-bold"> External Websites </div> <div class="pb-20"> <ul class="list-unstyled mt-20 lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/zoo" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction - Zoo</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/zoo/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">National Geographic - Zoo</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-title">Britannica Websites</div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-subtitle">Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.</div> <ul class="list-unstyled bps-topic-web-sites lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/zoo/353956" target="_blank" rel="noopener">zoo - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/zoo/276045" target="_blank" rel="noopener">zoo - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="toc-header-marker"></div> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 js-header-ai-ask-button d-none btn-sm btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 mr-0 mr-lg-10 ml-5 ml-sm-10 ml-lg-0 p-10"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> <div class="caption alternate-titles">Also known as: zoological garden, zoological park</div> <div class="md-byline module-spacing "> <div class="font-serif font-12"> <span class="written-by text-gray-700"> Written and fact-checked by </span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2024-11-22T00:00:00CST" >Nov 22, 2024</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/science/zoo/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 ai-ask-button btn border-2 module-spacing btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <div class="js-qf-module qf-module px-40 px-sm-20 py-15 mx-auto module-spacing font-14 bg-gray-50 rounded"> <div class="facts-list mt-10"> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Also called: </dt> <dd>zoological garden or zoological park</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Key People: </dt> <dd><a href="/biography/Marlin-Perkins" topicid="1668096">Marlin Perkins</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Related Topics: </dt> <dd><a href="/animal/animal" topicid="25501">animal</a></dd> <dd><a href="/science/open-range-zoo" topicid="429705">open-range zoo</a></dd> <dd><a href="/science/childrens-zoo" topicid="111317">children’s zoo</a></dd> <dd><a href="/topic/menagerie" topicid="374635">menagerie</a></dd> <dd><a href="/science/safari-park" topicid="516011">safari park</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> <div class="text-center"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0" href="/facts/zoo"> See all related content </a> </div> </div> </div> </div><div class="bg-gray-50 p-15 rounded module-spacing recent-news d-flex flex-column float-false"> <div> <h2 class="font-weight-bold font-14 m-0 d-inline"> News <span class="text-gray-600">•</span> </h2> <div class="recent-news-item first-recent-news-item d-inline"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/vandarlur-zoo-to-tap-corporate-funds-for-better-upkeep-of-animals/article68893849.ece" rel="nofollow">Vandalur zoo to tap corporate funds for better upkeep of animals</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 21, 2024, 4:38 AM ET (The Hindu) <button class="btn btn-link d-inline p-0 font-12 js-toggle-recent-news"> <span class="text-gray-500">...</span><span>(Show more)</span> </button> </span> </div> </div> <div class="rest-of-recent-news-items"> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.newsweek.com/little-boy-finds-unlikely-friendship-zoo-then-they-boogy-together-1987606" rel="nofollow">Little Boy Finds Unlikely Friendship at Zoo, Then They 'Boogy' Together</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 19, 2024, 2:14 AM ET (Newsweek) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/childrens-day-kids-get-free-entry-to-zoo-dasara-expo/article68868660.ece" rel="nofollow">Children’s Day: Kids get free entry to Zoo, Dasara expo</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 15, 2024, 2:06 AM ET (The Hindu) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.scmp.com/news/china-insider/article/1716591/around-nation-man-runs-350km-home-lunar-new-year" rel="nofollow">Around the nation: Man runs 350km home for Lunar New Year</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 5, 2024, 1:46 AM ET (South China Morning Post) </span> </div> <button class="js-toggle-recent-news d-flex btn btn-unstyled font-14 pr-10 rounded-sm mt-10" aria-label="Toggle additional news items"> Show less <em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_less"></em> </button> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref165291"></span>zoo</strong>, place where wild <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/animal" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">animals</a> and, in some instances, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/domestication" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">domesticated animals</a> are exhibited in captivity. In such an establishment, animals can generally be given more intensive care than is possible in nature reserves or <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="sanctuaries" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/sanctuaries" data-type="EB">sanctuaries</a>. Most long-established zoos exhibit general collections of animals, but some formed more recently specialize in particular groups—e.g., <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/primate-mammal" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">primates</a>, big cats, tropical <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/bird-animal" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">birds</a>, or <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/waterfowl-bird" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">waterfowl</a>. Marine <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/invertebrate" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">invertebrates</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/fish" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">fishes</a>, and marine mammals are often kept in separate establishments known as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/aquarium" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">aquariums</a>. The word <em>zoo</em> was first used in the late 19th century as a popular abbreviation for the zoological gardens in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/London" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">London</a>.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">For information on particular zoos, <em>see</em> articles at their specific names—e.g., <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Basel-Zoological-Garden" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Basel Zoological Garden</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Lincoln-Park-Zoo" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Lincoln Park Zoo</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Prague-Zoological-Garden" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Prague Zoological Gardens</a>, and so on.</p><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">It is not known when the earliest zoos were established, but it is possible that they were associated with the first attempts at <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/animal" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">animal</a> <span id="ref165292"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/domestication" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">domestication</a>. Pigeons were kept in captivity as early as 4500 <span class="text-smallcaps">bce</span> in what is now <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Iraq" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Iraq</a>, and 2,000 years later <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/elephant-mammal" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">elephants</a> were semidomesticated in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/India" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">India</a>. <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/antelope-mammal" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Antelopes</a>, including the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/addax-antelope" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">addax</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/ibex" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">ibex</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/oryx" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">oryx</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/gazelle" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">gazelle</a>, are depicted wearing collars on Egyptian tomb pictures at Ṣaqqārah, dating from 2500 <span class="text-smallcaps">bce</span>. In <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/China" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">China</a> the empress Tanki, who probably lived about 1150 <span class="text-smallcaps">bce</span>, built a great marble “house of deer,” and <span id="ref165293"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Wenwang" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Wen Wang</a>, who apparently reigned just before 1000 <span class="text-smallcaps">bce</span>, established a <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="zoo" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/zoo" data-type="EB">zoo</a> of 1,500 acres in extent, which he named the <span id="ref165294"></span>Ling-Yu, or Garden of Intelligence.</p><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The biblical king <span id="ref165295"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Solomon" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Solomon</a>, who also reigned about 1000 <span class="text-smallcaps">bce</span>, was a farmer-zoologist, and he was followed, for at least the next 600 years, by other royal zookeepers, including Semiramis and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ashurbanipal" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Ashurbanipal</a> of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Assyria" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Assyria</a> and King <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nebuchadrezzar-I" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Nebuchadrezzar</a> of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Babylonia" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Babylonia</a>.</p><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Collections of captive animals were in existence in <span id="ref165296"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/ancient-Greece" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Greece</a> by the 7th century <span class="text-smallcaps">bce</span>, and by the 4th century <span class="text-smallcaps">bce</span> it is probable that such collections existed in most, if not all, of the Greek city-states. <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Aristotle" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Aristotle</a> (384–322 <span class="text-smallcaps">bce</span>) was obviously well acquainted with zoos; his most famous pupil, <span id="ref165297"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alexander-the-Great" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Alexander the Great</a>, sent back to Greece many animals that were caught on his military expeditions.</p><a class="link-module shadow-sm d-block qa-quiz-module" href="/quiz/animal-group-names" data-link-module-iframe-link=""> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/65/161265-131-DCC952FE/Sea-otter.jpg" alt="Sea otter (Enhydra lutris), also called great sea otter, rare, completely marine otter of the northern Pacific, usually found in kelp beds. Floats on back. Looks like sea otter laughing. saltwater otters" class="rounded-sm mr-15" width="70" /> <div class="line-clamp clamp-5"> <div class="module-title bg-green">Britannica Quiz</div> <div class="font-weight-semi-bold mt-5">Animal Group Names</div> </div> </a><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD6 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The earlier Egyptian and Asian zoos were kept mainly as public spectacles and only secondarily for study, but the Greeks of Aristotle’s time were more concerned with study and experiment. The <span id="ref165298"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/ancient-Rome" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Romans</a> had two types of animal collections: those destined for the arena and those kept as private zoos and aviaries.</p><span class="marker MOD6 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD7 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">With the end of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Roman-Empire" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Roman Empire</a>, zoos went into a decline, but animal collections were maintained by the emperor <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Charlemagne" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Charlemagne</a> in the 8th century <span class="text-smallcaps">ce</span> and by <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Henry-I-king-of-France" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Henry I</a> in the 12th century. In Europe <span id="ref165299"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Philip-VI" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Philip VI</a> had a <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="menagerie" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/menagerie" data-type="MW">menagerie</a> in the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Louvre-Museum" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Louvre</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Paris" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Paris</a>, in 1333, and many members of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/house-of-Bourbon" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">house of Bourbon</a> kept collections of animals at <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Versailles-France" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Versailles</a>.</p><div class="module-spacing"> <DIV class="marketing-INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION marketing-content" data-marketing-id="INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION"><style> .student-promo-banner-wrapper { container-type: inline-size; margin-bottom: 15px; } @container (min-width: 475px) { .student-promo-banner { flex-direction: row; } .student-promo-banner-img-wrapper { margin-bottom: 0; margin-right: 10px; justify-content: flex-start; } .student-promo-banner-text-wrapper { text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 10px; } .student-promo-banner-button-wrapper { margin-right: 0; } }</style> <div class="student-promo-banner-wrapper"> <div class="student-promo-banner d-flex flex-column align-items-center bg-blue rounded p-20"> <div class="student-promo-banner-img-wrapper mb-20 mr-0 d-flex justify-content-center"> <img class="rounded" style="max-width: 100px; min-width: 80px" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/BlueThistle.webp" /> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-text-wrapper ml-0 mb-10 text-center text-white"> <div class="h2 mb-10">Get Unlimited Access</div> <div class="h4 font-weight-semi-bold">Try Britannica Premium for free and discover more.</div> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-button-wrapper d-flex justify-content-center align-items-center ml-auto mr-auto"> <a class="btn btn-m btn-orange" href="https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=inline-cta&utm_campaign=black-friday-2024">Subscribe</a> </div> </div> </div> </DIV></div><span class="marker MOD7 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD8 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">In the New World, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Hernan-Cortes" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Hernán Cortés</a> discovered a magnificent zoo in <span id="ref165300"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Mexico" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Mexico</a> in 1519. The collection, which included <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/bird-of-prey" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">birds of prey</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/mammal" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">mammals</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/reptile" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">reptiles</a>, was so large that it needed a staff of 300 keepers.</p><span class="marker MOD8 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD9 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Modern zookeeping may be said to have started in 1752 with the founding of the Imperial Menagerie at the <span id="ref165301"></span>Schönbrunn Palace in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Vienna" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Vienna</a>. This menagerie, which still flourishes, was opened to the general public in 1779. In 1775 a zoo was founded in a Royal Park in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Madrid" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Madrid</a>, and 18 years later the zoological collection of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Jardin-des-Plantes" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Jardin des Plantes</a>, Paris, was begun. The <span id="ref165302"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Zoological-Society-of-London" class="md-crosslink ">Zoological Society of London</a> established its collection in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Regents-Park" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Regent’s Park</a> in 1828, two years after the society itself was founded.</p><span class="marker MOD9 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD10 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">By the mid-19th century, <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="zoos" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/zoos" data-type="EB">zoos</a> were being opened all over the world; among those existing today, more than 40, most of which are in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Europe" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Europe</a>, are more than 100 years old. Since the end of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/World-War-II" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">World War II</a> there has been a rapid and worldwide proliferation of zoos, many of which have as their aim not the study of animals but public entertainment and commercial gain. The total number of animal collections open to the public in the world today is not accurately known but exceeds 1,000.</p><span class="marker MOD10 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="marker h2"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref8131"> <h2 class="h1">Function and purpose</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD11 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"> The primary object of zoos that are in the charge of scientific societies is the study of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/animal" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">animals</a>. Thus, the purpose of the Zoological Society of London, as stated in its Royal Charter, is “the advancement of <span id="ref165303"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/zoology" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Zoology</a> and Animal Physiology and the introduction of new and curious subjects of the Animal Kingdom.” This society has been the model for many other zoological societies throughout the world. In the 19th century the <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="emphasis" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/emphasis" data-type="EB">emphasis</a> of the investigations carried out in scientific zoos was mainly on <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/taxonomy" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">taxonomy</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/comparative-anatomy" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">comparative anatomy</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/pathology" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">pathology</a>. Today the opportunities for scientific inquiry are much wider, and a few societies have established special research institutions. In the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/United-States" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">United States</a> the <span id="ref165304"></span>Penrose Research Laboratory, of the <span id="ref165305"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Philadelphia-Zoological-Gardens" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Philadelphia Zoo</a>, is particularly concerned with comparative pathology. The <span id="ref165306"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Wildlife-Conservation-Society" class="md-crosslink ">New York Zoological Society</a> maintains an Institute for Research in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/animal-behavior" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Animal Behavior</a> and, in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Trinidad-and-Tobago" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Trinidad</a>, the William Beebe Tropical Research Station. In <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Great-Britain-island-Europe" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Great Britain</a> the Zoological Society of London maintains, in addition to a modern hospital and pathology laboratories, two general research institutes—the Nuffield Institute of Comparative Medicine and the Wellcome Institute of Comparative Physiology.</p><span class="marker MOD11 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD12 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Many zoos publish scientific journals and periodicals, which range in their contents from the popular to the highly technical. Again, the Zoological Society of London led the way. Its “Proceedings,” now known as the <em><span id="ref165307"></span>Journal of Zoology,</em> has appeared uninterruptedly since 1830.</p><span class="marker MOD12 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD13 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">In recent years a few zoos have intensified their efforts, frequently in cooperation with educational authorities, to provide an <span id="ref165308"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/elementary-education" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">educational program</a> for school children and students. Some zoos have full-time or voluntary guides on their staff, whose job it is to provide more information for visitors than can be given on labels attached to cages. Others meet this need by providing “talking labels,” prerecorded tapes operated by the visitors themselves.</p><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD13 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD14 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="220324" data-asm-type="video"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="video" video-id="191913"><a data-id="191913" class="gtm-assembly-link d-flex justify-content-center" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9" href="/video/diversity-captivity-animals/-220324"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/13/191913-138-ECCBBD27/diversity-captivity-animals.jpg?w=800&h=450&c=crop" alt="Know the importance of maintaining genetic diversity during the breeding programs of endangered species in captivity" loading="lazy"><script type="application/json"> { "sources": [ { "file" : "//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/8Xf0NdOB.m3u8" } ], "image": "https://cdn.britannica.com/13/191913-138-ECCBBD27/diversity-captivity-animals.jpg" ,"tracks": [ { "file" : "//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/trIylwMY", "label": "English" } ] ,"adfile": "//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/kNwvQOoE.m3u8" } </script><div class="btn btn-xl btn-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="top: 50%; transform: translateY(-50%)"><em class="material-icons" data-icon="play_arrow"></em></div></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><span class="md-assembly-title font-weight-bold mr-5 d-inline font-sans-serif md-video-caption" video-control="191913">Know the importance of maintaining genetic diversity during the breeding programs of endangered species in captivity</span><span>Why genetic diversity is important when breeding animals in captivity.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div><a class="font-14 mt-10 d-inline-block" href="/science/zoo/images-videos">See all videos for this article</a></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph"> Since <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/World-War-II" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">World War II</a> a number of zoos have been developed as <span id="ref165309"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/animal-breeding" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">breeding</a> centres for animal <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/species-taxon" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">species</a> in danger of becoming <span id="ref165311"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/extinction-biology" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">extinct</a> in the wild. Many <span id="ref165312"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/endangered-species" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">threatened species</a> have been <span id="ref165310"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/wildlife-conservation" class="md-crosslink ">saved</a> by breeding in captivity. For example, in 1947 it was estimated that there were only 50 <span id="ref165313"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/nene" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">nenes</a>, or Hawaiian geese, left on Hawaii and none anywhere else in the world. In 1950 two <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/nene" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">nenes</a> were housed at the Wildfowl Trust at Slimbridge, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/England" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">England</a>, and in 1951 a gander was hatched. The birds continued to breed successfully, and gradually the captive stock in Europe was spread over a dozen different <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="menageries" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/menageries" data-type="MW">menageries</a> to minimize the risk of losses from <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/disease" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">disease</a> or predators. Another species that has been saved by breeding in zoos is the <span id="ref165314"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/European-bison" class="md-crosslink ">European bison</a>, or wisent, the last wild specimen of which died in 1925. Other species that zoos have helped to survive include <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/Pere-Davids-deer" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Père David’s deer</a> and many rare <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/game-meat" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">game</a> birds. The increasing number of zoo <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/birth" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">births</a> gives hope that zoos, rather than capturing wild animals for exhibition, will perhaps be able to restock the wild with zoo-born animals.</p><span class="marker MOD14 mod-inline"></span> </section> <span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article></div> </div></div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":3,"pageId":657894,"pageLength":1140,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.130.14"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.130.14' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"A","adLeg":"A","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"PAGINATED","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":false} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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