London Zoo

London Zoo is the world's oldest scientific zoo.^[3] It was opened in London on 27 April 1828,^[4] and was originally intended to be used as a collection for scientific study. It was eventually opened to the public in 1847.^[3] Today it has a collection of 673 species of animals, with 19,789 individuals, making it one of the largest collections in the United Kingdom.^[2]

London Zoo

Date opened	1828
Location	Regent's Park, London, England
Land area	36 acres [1] (0.108 km²)
Coordinates	51°32′08″N 00°09′21″W
No. of animals	19,789 (2018)[2]
No. of species	673 (2018)[2]
Website	ZSL London Zoo

It is managed by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), established in 1826.^[3] It is at the northern edge of Regent's Park, on the boundary line between City of Westminster and Camden (the Regent's Canal runs through it).^[5] The Society also has a larger site at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire to which the larger animals such as elephants and rhinos have been moved.^[6][7] As well as being the first scientific zoo, ZSL London Zoo also opened the first Reptile house (1849), first public Aquarium (1853),^[8] first insect house (1881) and the first children's zoo (1938).

ZSL receives no state funding and relies on 'Fellows', 'Friends', 'Members', entrance fees and sponsorship to get income.^[9][10]

However, the ZSL's nearby Institute of Zoology may get public grants as a scientific institution. It has an international reputation in bioconservation.^[11]