London Zoo, previously known as ZSL London Zoo or London Zoological Gardens is the world’s oldest scientific zoo. Only professors from the Zoological Society were allowed into the Zoo. It was opened to the public in 1847. Today, it houses a collection of more than 600 species of animals, one of the largest collections in the world. For example, for the bigger animals, you will need to go to ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, which has 600 acres for the elephants, rhinos and other animals to admire. In 1865, the London Zoo welcomed an African bull elephant transferred to the zoo from Paris who was named Jumbo. Growing to 11 feet tall, his name came to inspire the word “jumbo” meaning “very large”, such as Boeing’s 747 Jumbo jet. It gave rides to children on his back, including those of Queen Victoria. The sale of Jumbo sent the citizens of London into a panic. There was an aquarium at the zoo from 1853 until 2019. The zoo’s first aquarium was also the world’s first public aquarium.
