The very first enclosure for animals, solely for the purpose of scientific study was the London Zoological Gardens in 1828. Since then the number of such enclosures and those which are open for the public has crossed 1000.
Most of these zoos, about 80% of them are found amidst the city, and for good reason. But when such is the case, there wouldn't have been much space for the animals. Let us now take a look at those which do have huge amounts of spaces.
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Check Out these Largest Zoos in India
1. Arignar Anna Zoological Park (Vandalur Zoo)
Location: Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Year started: 1855
Area: 6.03 km2 or 1,490 acres
This was the very first zoo established in India, and boy is it huge. It is the biggest zoo in all of India! It is located just about 15 km from Chennai International Airport and a good 35 km from the main city. One can see more than 1500 species of animals, birds along with flightless birds and insects here.
2. Nandankanan Zoological Park
Location: Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Year started: 1960
Area: 4.006 km2 or 1080 acres
In the capital of Odisha, Bhubaneswar is Nandankanan Zoo, which translates to "The Garden of Heaven". This Zoo has the distinction of being the first Indian zoo to be added to the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA)
3. Indira Gandhi Zoological Park
Location: Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
Year started: 1977
Area: 2.52 km2 or 625 acres
This zoo, which is a tribute to the late PM of India, Indira Gandhi is a confinement amidst an actual reserve forest (Kumabalkonda). It is a home to over 80 species of flora and fauna.
4. Assam State Zoo cum Botanical Garden
Location: Guwahati, Assam
Date started: 1958
Area: 1.74 km2 432.4 acres
Another zoological garden located within a reserve forest (Hengrabari Reserved Forest) is the State Zoo of Assam. This enclosure is home to more than 113 species of animals from all over the world.
5. Nehru Zoological Park
Location: Hyderabad, Telangana
Date started: 1963
Area: 1.53 km2 or 380 acres
Located in the capital of the newly formed Telangana state, this zoo is named after Jawaharlal Nehru, the first PM of free India. It is a home to more than 100 species of animals.
6. Mysore Zoo (Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Garden)
Location: Mysore, Karnataka
Date started: 1892
Area: 0.99 km2 or 244 acres
This zoo, which is home to about 168 species of animals is located close to the famous Mysore Palace. It was started by a German landscaper and horticulturist, G.H. Krumbiegel in the summer palace of the then king of Mysore Maharaja Sri Chamaraja Wodeyar.
7. Allen Forest Zoo
Location: Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
Date started: 1971
Area: 0.77 km2 or 190.2 acres
This zoo is described as an oasis in the middle of the industrial city of Kanpur. It is also one of the few forests that have been converted into zoos.
8. National Zoological Park
Location: New Delhi, Delhi
Date started: 1959
Area: 0.71 km2 or 175.4 acres
This sprawling botanical garden in New Delhi has over 126 species of animals, a beautiful green island and also a citadel that dates back to the 16th century. The specialty and a great attraction at the zoo is the White Tiger.
9. Sanjay Gandhi Jaivik Udyan
Location: Patna, Bihar
Date started: 1973
Area: 0.62 km2 or 153.2 acres
This biological garden is the most visited attraction in all of Bihar. It is home to over 400 species of animals, birds, trees, and fish.
10. Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park
Location: Pune, Maharashtra
Date started: 1999
Area: 0.53 km2 or 130.9 acres
This zoo is unique by its division of the entire park into 3 parts. The first is the animal orphanage, a dedicated snake park and then there is the zoo. This zoo is well known for the most venomous animals in it.
11. Sajjangarh Biological Park
Location: Udaipur, Rajasthan
Date started: 2015
Area: 0.36 km2 or 89 acres
Located below the Sajjangarh Palace, this latest addition is about 4 km from the center of the city. At present, it is host to about 21 species of animals.
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