World’s Oldest Zoo to Close in September

London Zoo, the world’s oldest animal park and a British institution for more than a century, said Wednesday it is about to close forever.

The world-renowned zoo in London’s Regent’s Park pioneered the concept of a caged menagerie of animals for mass entertainment when it was founded 164 years ago.

But the Victorian-age institution has fallen victim to changing tastes in leisure and a growing “green” awareness that behind bars is not the best place for wild animals.

The Zoological Society of London, governors of the zoo, said the business has failed to break even despite pleas to the government and a cash appeal, and the gates will be closed permanently at the end of the summer season in September.

The society said it expects to find new homes for the zoo’s more than 2,000 animals but could give no absolute guarantees that some might not have to be destroyed. A small number of the animals will go to a sister zoo in the countryside, Whipsnade, a safari park where large animals can roam more freely.

London Zoo, set up in 1828, was the brainchild of Stamford Raffles, the founder of Singapore.