Established in 1752 as an imperial menagerie for Emperor Francis I on the grounds of Vienna's Schoenbrunn Palace, Tiergarten Schoenbrunn opened its gates to the general public in 1779. It has operated without interruption ever since, earning it Guinness World Records recognition as the oldest zoo still in operation anywhere. In 1906 it became the site of the first elephant born in captivity.
Record no. MRB-2026-006017
Oldest Continuously Operating Zoo in the World
Reference Record – Not Certified
This record is compiled from publicly available sources for reference. It has not been examined or certified by The Book of World Records.