Alipore Zoological Garden

Alipore Zoological Garden, usually called Alipore Zoo, is in the south Kolkata neighbourhood of Alipore. Opened in 1875, it ranks among the oldest zoos in India and covers roughly 46 acres of lawns, trees and ponds. Its animals range from lions and giraffes to a wide mix of birds and reptiles.

Its roots go back to a private animal collection kept by Governor-General Richard Wellesley at his country house in Barrackpore. Several attempts to create a city zoo followed: John McClelland of the Asiatic Society museum proposed one in 1842, Joseph Fayrer revived the idea some twenty years later, and postal official Carl Louis Schwendler drew up a full plan, but each stalled for lack of land. The government finally set aside about 46.5 acres.

Gifts of money, animals and services helped build it. The Mullick House, paid for by Raja Rajendra Mullick, is said to be the first animal house, and Ram Brahma Sanyal, the first superintendent, began breeding animals on site.