Vienna Zoo (Tiergarten Schonbrunn), Vienna

Schönbrunn Zoo, located in Vienna, covers an area of 17 hectares (equivalent to 42 acres). It holds the distinction of being the world's oldest operational zoo, having been founded in 1752. The zoo is also a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, forming part of the Schönbrunn Palace gardens. It consistently draws in excess of 2 million visitors annually.

As of 2021, the zoo boasted an impressive collection of 707 different species, comprising approximately 8,250 individual animals. Among its star attractions are the giant pandas, and it ranks among the select 27 zoos worldwide that house these remarkable creatures.

Schönbrunn Zoo owes its creation to Francis Stephen of Lorraine, the spouse of Empress Maria Theresa of the Habsburg monarchy. In 1745, he hired architect Jean Nicolas Jadot de Ville-Issey to build a menagerie at Schönbrunn, their summer residence.

In the park, a dozen animal enclosures with matching administrative buildings and front gardens were created. A pond and two yards were later added. The zoo opened to visitors in the summer of 1752, with the octagonal pavilion at the center, initially designed as a social venue in 1759, still serving as a restaurant today.

The Schönbrunn Zoo started with animals from the Neugebäude palace and Belvedere menagerie, except for 'rapacious' ones. It grew with acquisitions, gifts, and Franz Stephan's West Indies expeditions, boosting zoological and botanical collections.

In the late 19th century, the Schönbrunn menagerie underwent significant changes. It evolved from a Baroque design to a modern zoo by 1880 when walls separating enclosures were replaced with bars for better visitor viewing. After 1900, it expanded eastwards to improve animal habitats, reaching its peak in 1914 with 3,470 animals.

Today, Schönbrunn Zoo is recognized as a scientifically managed zoo, with its primary focus on species preservation and overall environmental conservation. It also strives to fulfill the educational responsibilities mandated by legislation.