Zoos or Zoological gardens are important centers for the ex- situ conservation of wild animals, particularly those which are rare and threatened with extinction. According to Woodroffe 1981, "whilst the importance of zoos for enriching the peoples'  lives should not be underestimated, the modern zoo is now faced with the even greater and urgent task of aiding wildlife conservation. The idea was first suggested as long ago as 1895 by Samuel P. Johnson, the secretary of the Smithsonian Institute .... he argued that it would be a home for the vanishing animals of the continent ".

Animals have been kept for work, warfare, food and entertainment by kings, emperors and nobles since times immemorial. Priests in the ancient civilization of Egypt,  thousands of years before Christ, kept a small collection of animals in temples in which cat, dogs, baboons, lions, ibises and many other animals were reared.  In the 12th century B. C., the Chinese Emperor Wen-Wang set up a Ling - U or Garden of Intelligence. This 600 hectare ZOO houses a large collection of animals.  When the famous traveler  Marco Polo visited China,  he saw lions and tigers kept in captivity in the imperial palace of China.

However the first zoological park as we know it today,  came up in 1759 at Schonbrunn  near Vienna which was set up by the Empress Maria Theresa and her husband Franz. At present there are 900  recognised Zoological parks in the world which are spread over 90 countries.

The history of modern zoos in India is 136 years old though kings and emperors had small collections of animals in their  palaces. The first zoo was probably started in 1854 by Raja Mullick Bahadur in the private mansion in the center of Calcutta.  There were many mammals and birds in this collection.

In 1855, a zoo was set by the Municipality of Madras in a 8 hectare area near the the Railway station. It was closed down in 1980 and shifted to a new 510 hectare site,  known  as the Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Vandalur. This is  a modern zoo of India.

Zoos were established in Rajasthan to emphasize the significance of wild animals and their conservation, to promote an understanding of biology, behaviour and distribution of various species. Beside this, zoos act as great research centers to undertake studies on behaviour, breeding, health, ecological and other aspects related to the better management of species and for captive propagation of rare and endangered species. Incidentally all the zoos of Rajasthan are situated inside the premier parks of that place that indicates how zoos were associated culturally with the day -to-day life of people.

I. Jaipur Zoo :

Jaipur zoo was established during the period of Princely States in 1876 in Ramniwas Bagh covering an area of 5.23 ha. Central Zoo Authority has accorded permission for shifting of present zoo to proposed Nahargarh Biological Park and till that time CZA has given approval for continuation of present zoo. In Nahargarh Biological Park, so far some works like road construction, building construction, construction of some enclosures, boundary wall construction, etc have been partially completed. For development of the Nahargarh Biological Park, a plan having an outlay of Rs. 10. cr has been prepared by the department which will be funded, to the extent of Rs. 4.50 crore, by JBIC funded  Rajasthan Forestry and Biodiversity Project. Rest of the funds are expected from CZA and/ or State Government. Some works like survey work of proposed Lion Safari, survey work of alternate road for Sisiawas village, etc have been completed.

II. Jodhpur Zoo:

Jodhpur zoo was established  in 1936 in Ummed Udyan covering an area of 6.00 ha. Central Zoo Authority has accorded permission for shifting of present zoo to proposed Machia Biological Park but despite request from the State Government no approval has given by CZA for continuation of present zoo. For development of the Machia Biological Park, a detailed plan having an outlay of Rs. 10.50 cr has been submitted to the State Government for approval.

Udaipur zoo was established  in 1878 in Gulab Bagh covering an area of 7.00 ha. Central Zoo Authority has accorded permission for shifting of present zoo to proposed Sajjangarh Biological Park but despite request from the State Government no approval has been given by CZA for continuation of present zoo. For development of the Sajjangarh Biological Park, a detailed plan is being prepared in consultation with the CZA approved architect. Meanwhile the proposed area of Biological Park has been fenced in year 2004-05.

IV. Bikaner Zoo

Bikaner zoo was established in 1922 in Public Park covering an area of 2.50 ha. CZAI has declined the request of the State Government for recognition of present zoo and directed to close it. Therefore the State government has decided to shift its animals to other zoos and some of its animals have already been shifted but due to temporary Injunction given by the Court of Additional Civil Judge, Bikaner, further shifting of animals has been withheld.

V. Kota Zoo

Kota zoo was established in 1905 in Public Park covering an area of 2.20 ha. Central Zoo Authority has directed that if the nearby land is given to the zoo for its expansion then CZAI may consider for  recognition or continuation of present zoo. Since no land is available in the vicinity of the zoo, therefore, it is proposed to shift the Zoo to a forest area by the side of Abheda Lake about 8 km from the Kota city. A detailed plan is being prepared for the development of proposed Biological Park.

As per section 38H (1) of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, no zoo shall operate without being recognised by the CZA, New Delhi. Presently except Jaipur zoo which has been given conditional permission to operate, no zoo has been allowed by CZA to operate. But contrary to the directions of CZA these zoos are still operating that amounts to violation of Section 38(H) of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. The Government of India have been requested again in this regard and the GOI has  agreed to allow the existing Zoos to operate till 31^{st December, 2006 with the condition that these zoos will be shifted to alternative places as per rules and guidelines issued by CZA in this regard.}