In today's terms, a zoo is a spacious site dedicated to displaying mostly exotic animals to the public. These animals are kept in conditions designed to be as species-appropriate as possible. In wildlife parks, on the other hand, the focus is on native wild animals in enclosures that closely resemble their natural habitats. All share three main objectives: education, research, and species conservation. Depending on their specialization, various facilities complement the landscape: while petting zoos allow direct contact with tame animals, aviaries provide room for birds to fly, and aquariums offer a look into underwater worlds.

History and Development

The history of zoos began around 5,000 years ago in countries such as Egypt and China, where kings and emperors kept wild animals primarily as symbols of power or as hunting companions. Later, the Greeks and Romans also maintained animal gardens. In ancient Rome, exotic animals were used for arena spectacles. With the decline of the Roman Empire, almost all large exotic animals disappeared from Europe for several centuries. It was not until the Crusades and voyages of discovery in the Middle Ages that animals from distant lands were once again introduced to Europe.

The first genuine ‘zoological gardens’ opened to the general public only after the 18th and 19th centuries. The royal menagerie at Versailles served as an important influence for the Schönbrunn Zoo in Vienna, which opened in 1752 and is today regarded as the world’s oldest surviving zoo. This was followed in the 19th century by the first modern zoological gardens with an educational focus, including London Zoo (1828) and the zoos in Berlin (1844) and Basel (1874).

At the beginning of the 20th century, this approach changed fundamentally: for the first time, cages without fences were built and the enclosures were designed to mimic the animals’ natural habitats. Today, a modern zoo no longer sees itself merely as a place of recreation for visitors. Instead, it is based on four key pillars: recreation, educating people about nature, scientific research and, above all, global species conservation through targeted breeding programmes and conservation projects.

Zoos in Switzerland

Among the oldest facilities in Switzerland are the Langenberg Wildlife Park (founded in 1869), dedicated solely to native species, and Basel Zoo (1874), the nation's first scientifically managed zoo. In its early years, Basel's "Zolli" also exhibited only native wildlife, introducing tropical species much later. Until 1935, the zoo even held ethnological exhibitions, putting people from distant cultures on display.

Whether keeping animals in zoos is still appropriate is the subject of intense debate today. Nevertheless, modern Swiss zoos continue to set visitor records: Zurich Zoo, for example, welcomed over 1.3 million visitors in 2025.

The Swiss Animal Protection Organisation (STS) promotes greater transparency: it regularly assesses both large and small facilities in its zoo reports. This enables the public to make an informed decision before visiting and encourages operators to continually improve their animal welfare standards.