- First zoo by Mehrgarh culture by 8,000–6,000 BC
- First known exotic animal collection in Hierakonpolis, Egypt in 2009 B.C
- Tiergarten Schönbrunn in 1752 (first zoo)
- In 1775 zoo was founded in Madrid
- 1768 First cicrus in England
- 1795 zoo inside the Jardin des Plantes in Paris
- Kazan Zoo in Russia was founded in 1806
- Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals founded in 1824
- Zoological Society of London was founded in 1826
- Established London Zoo opened to the public in 1828
- Tierpark Hagenbeck with open enclosures in 1828
- Dublin Zoo was opened in 1831
- Opened to the public 1847
- London Zoo establishes first ever public aquarium in 1853
- Downs' Zoological Gardens opens to public 1847 (Nova Scotia)
- Aquarium in Paris in 1859
- Melbourne Zoo Australia in 1860
- Central Park Zoo first American zoo opened 1860
- Aquarium in Hamburg in 1864
- American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals founded April 10,1866
- Aquarium in Berlin in 1869
- Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus opens April 10, 1871
Aquarium in Brighton in 1872 - Aquarium in Boston in 1859
- Aquarium in Washington in 1873
- Aquarium San Francisco Woodward's Garden in 1873
- New York Aquarium at Battery Park in 1896
- 1907 Sellingen Tierpark Hagenbeck in Stellingen
- Whipsnade Park in Bedfordshire, England, was opened in 1931 Safari Park
- 1938 the London Zoo included the first children's zoo (petting zoo)
- 1938 Philadelphia Zoo was the first in North America to open
- Defenders of Wildlife founded in 1972
- The Humane Society of the United States founded in November 24,1954
- World Wide Fund for Nature founded in April 29,1961
- SeaWorld San Diego opens March 21, 1964
- Detroit Zoo stopped its elephant show in 1969
- Sea World Ohio open 1970
- Shamu dies at the hands of SeaWorld August 1971
- Ocean Conservancy founded in 1972
- SeaWorld Orlando opens December 15, 1973
- Sea Shepherd Conservation Society founded in June 1977
- Animal Legal Defense Fund founded in 1979
- PETA founded March 1980
- Zoo Licensing Act of 1981
- World Animal Protection founded in 1981
- Farm Sanctuary founded in 1981
- Detroit Zoo stops chimpanzee show in 1983
- In Defense of Animals founded in 1983
- Best Friends Animal Society founded in 1984
- 1984 Zoo Licensing Act put into affect
- African Wildlife Foundation founded in 1984
- Rainforest Action Network founded in 1985
- Two Polar Bears at the Prospect Park Zoo kill child May 1987
- SeaWorld San Antonio openes on May 27, 1988
- Humane Society International in 1991
- Wildlife SOS founded in 1998
- The Gentle Barn founded in 1999
- Frst mobile petting zoos in Australia 1992 Kindifarm
- April 1999, the European Union put conservation role of zoos
- Mercy for Animals founded in October 1999
- Sea World Ohio closes 2001
- Soi Dog Foundation founded in 2003
- Georgia Aquarium opens November 23 2005
- Tatiana the Siberian Tiger killed at the San Francisco Zoo December 2007
- Shaum drowns Dawn Brancheau February 24, 2010 at Sea World
- Child killed by African Painted Dog at the Pittsburgh Zoo November 2012
- Blackfish released 2013
- June 2014 Animal Legal Defense Fund flies a lawsuit against the Iowa-based roadside Cricket Hollow Zoo
- March 2016 Tilikum dies in the hands of SeaWorld
- May 2016 Two Lions killed at the Santiago Metropolitan Zoo
- May 28, 2016 Harambe killed
- Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus closes May 21, 2017