Overview

"The Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden is one of the oldest in the world with its almost 150 years of history. The first idea of the foundation dates back to 1820-30s but the 1848-49 Revolution and War of Independence and the era of Opression did not favour the idea of founding a zoo in Hungary. Finally, the initiation of a group of patriots took form in 1866 and the first Hungarian Zoo opened its gates to the sound of the midday bell on August 9th. Among the founding fathers were the geologist József Szabó, Ágoston Kubinyi, the Director of the National Museum, József Gerenday, the Director of the Botanical Garden of Budapest and most importantly János Xántus, a recognised zoologist, ethnographer and the first director of the Budapest Zoo."