since Elizabethan times. Driven by changing public attitudes, zoos have evolved from places simply of spectacle and scientific research to focus more on conservation and animal welfare.

royal menagerie at Woodstock Manor near Oxford, including lions and camels. They were seen as symbols of power. This tradition was kept by his successors, who received exotic animals as gifts from foreign rulers. The animals provided entertainment to the king and his court. 11th century

was first allowed to view the royal menagerie by Queen Elizabeth I. It had moved to the Tower of London, where visitors could pat the younger lions that played in the grounds. Free entry was given to anyone who brought a dead cat or dog to supplement the animals' diets.16th century

menagerie, showman Gilbert Pidcock opened his own animal collection at the Exeter Exchange on the Strand in central London. Pidcock promoted his collection with eye- catching newspaper adverts. In one he assured the public his wild animals were "so well secured, that the most timorous may approach them in safety."1793

first travelling menageries was founded by shoemaker George Wombwell, who realised people outside of London would pay to see wild animals. By 1839 his menagerie had 15 wagons of animals and a brass band. It received a visit from Queen Victoria at Windsor Fair in 1847. The menagerie inspired circuses to start using animals in their shows. Impresario George Sanger even invited Wombwell's lion trainer to perform at his circus.1 810

‘Change... ” Lord Byron, 1813

was founded for the study of animal species thanks to a growing Victorian interest in natural science. It acquired many animals when the Tower menagerie closed. The zoo was run by The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) in Regents Park and was only open to members. But its large collection of animals was costly to feed and maintain, so in 1847 it opened to the general public. Bristol Zoo, Edinburgh Zoological Gardens and Belle Vue Zoo near Manchester were also founded around this time.1 828

was at London Zoo that Charles Darwin saw his first orangutan, called Jenny. He watched in amazement as she had a tantrum over a withheld apple. The naturalist observed that Jenny's intelligence and emotional expression was similar to a human child. He was profoundly moved by the experience and it infuenced his theory of evolution published 20 years later. 1 838

believe true to consider him created from animals. ” Charles Darwin, 1838

created a literal splash by exhibiting the first hippo in Europe since the time of the Roman Empire. The young animal, called Obaysch, weighed 37st and attracted up to 10,000 visitors a day. The zoo then bought Jumbo the elephant who became the new star of the collection. Bristol Zoo acquired Zebi the elephant who entertained visitors by eating straw hats. 1 850

with wild animals was such that Harrods opened an exotic pet store. Wealthy customers could buy animals from tiger cubs to alligators. Many of these creatures were given to zoos after they grew too big or unmanageable for their owners.1 917

century zoos were inspired by Carl Hagenbeck's zoo in Hamburg, which gave animals more space to roam. George Mottershead opened Chester Zoo in the Cheshire countryside where there was plenty of room to expand. In the same year ZSL opened the first wildlife park at Whipsnade, inspired by the vast nature reserves in Africa.1 931

the animals as near to their natural life as possible. ” George Mottershead, founder of Chester Zoo

war broke out there were fears that wild animals could escape during air raids. Some zoos responded by putting down animals such as poisonous snakes and lions. Others moved their animals to safer places. Bristol’s big cats were evacuated to Chester. 1 939

three months in Sierra Leone looking for wild animals to put in zoos. The project was sponsored by the Zoological Society of London and featured in the TV programme ‘Zoo Quest.’ The public now saw what life was like for animals in the wild compared to captivity.1 954

and animals that had never before been seen on television or in the cinema. ” David Attenborough

was set up in Jersey with the founding principle of preserving endangered species. Owner Gerald Durrell was deeply afected on his travels when he observed animals losing their habitat and struggling for survival in the wild. He made it his zoo’s mission to save species from extinction. 1 959

you preserve the habitat in which it dwells. ” Gerald Durrell, 1966

visitors to drive past animals in the grounds of Longleat House in Wiltshire. It was set up by the former circus-owner Jimmy Chipperfield and the Marquess of Bath. This was the heyday of British zoos with a number of suburban zoos and safari-style parks opening their doors. 1 966

there was a growing unease about how animals were treated in captivity. Philosopher Peter Singer refected this concern in his book, Animal Liberation. In it he argued that animals could sufer just as much as humans and therefore their interests were worthy of equal consideration. He argued humans were guilty of species prejudice. These ideas inspired the nascent animal rights movement. 1 975

Zoo Licensing Act 1981 set standards for animal enclosures in Britain. It also required zoos to focus on conservation and education. Zoos began to breed animals in captivity rather than taking them from the wild. Soon afterwards animal rights charity Zoo Check was set up to help protect the welfare of captive animals. 1 981

to meet the... needs of the species to which it belongs. ” The Zoo Licensing Act, 1981

were in crisis with many sufering a significant drop in visitors. Surveys of the time suggested three quarters of Britons were opposed to keeping animals in captivity. At one point London Zoo was months from closure after government funding cuts. 1 991

will be forced to close within a few months. ” New Scientist, 1991

to shift towards better animal care and conservation in response to the crisis. One of the first signs was zoo involvement in breed and release programmes for endangered animals. London Zoo worked with the Saudi Wildlife Authority to release 100 sand gazelles in Saudi Arabia. It was the world's largest release of captive-bred mammals.1 995

'Seal and Penguin Coasts', which included deep pools fitted with wave machines, beaches and islands. It marked a shift among big zoos towards building ‘showstopper enclosures’ from Spirit of the Jaguar at Chester to Gorilla Kingdom at London. 1 999

girafe to have keyhole surgery to mend a fractured jaw. The operation at Edinburgh Zoo saved her life. It marked a new willingness by progressive zoos to treat individual animals with the latest technology. At Bristol Zoo a gorilla called Romina underwent a ground-breaking cataract operation.2004

were now becoming home-bases for animal conservation work across the world. One example was at Chester Zoo, where staf built bridges linking up pockets of orangutan habitat in Borneo. Orangutan populations had become increasingly isolated from one another as their habitat was threatened by palm oil plantations, roads and villages. Zoos were now as committed to animals in the wild as those in their care.2011

way to do so is to save the places where they live. ” David Attenborough, 2012