The history of zoos

The claim that the first zoo was established in Australia in the 15th century is false. Vienna’s Schönbrunn menagerie was founded in 1752 as an imperial collection; it was initially reserved for the court and began admitting the public in 1778. Australia’s oldest zoo is Melbourne Zoo, founded in 1862. Animal collections existed in antiquity, so what counts as the “first zoo” depends on the definition.