For over 600 years, the Tower of London has been home to hundreds of animals. Discover how they ended up in this historic landmark.

The Tower of London is renowned worldwide and stands as a significant cultural landmark in the capital of the United Kingdom, but its history is also intertwined with hundreds of exotic animals. The first zoo in London was not exactly a zoo in the modern sense; rather, it functioned as a royal menagerie established at the Tower, as reported by IFLScience.

The royal menagerie emerged in the 13th century during the reign of King John and subsequently King Henry III. However, the first zoo in London was essentially not a zoo at all but a royal menagerie where animals were displayed to various audiences and sometimes even studied.

As early as the time of Henry I, foreign rulers gifted exotic animals to English kings as acts of diplomacy. Among these remarkable "gifts" were lions, camels, leopards, lynxes, and even a porcupine, which were kept at Woodstock, which served simultaneously as a menagerie and hunting ground.

During the reign of King John, the animals were relocated to the Tower, and their numbers significantly increased. However, most popular stories regarding this topic date back to 1235 when Henry III received three animals described as "leopards" from the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II. Scholars believe these were likely lions.

Later, in 1252, King Haakon IV of Norway sent a "pale" bear, presumed to be a polar bear, and three years after that, Louis IX of France gifted the King of England an elephant captured during the Crusades.

All these animals required food, leading to rising expenses for the upkeep of the menagerie. The burden of this rather specific collection fell on the sheriffs, who had to pay for their food. Subsequently, Henry decided to tax the residents of London to cover the costs of housing the elephant.

It is easy to assume that knowledge about exotic animals at that time was quite limited, so no one really understood what an elephant should eat. Initially, it was fed meat and given wine to drink daily. Unfortunately, such a diet soon proved fatal for the elephant.

Scholars believe that the main purpose of the royal menagerie was largely tied to the personal prestige of the monarch. Receiving such exotic creatures as gifts was not only a sign of respect but also their display could showcase wealth, power, and the extent of their global connections. Initially, the menagerie was accessible to visiting nobles and foreign dignitaries, but over time it became open to a broader public.

Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the menagerie grew into an increasingly popular tourist attraction in London and a means for the crown to generate additional revenue. It was during this period that the place began to resemble what could be called an early zoo.

In 1822, a professional zoologist was appointed as the curator of the Tower menagerie. His knowledge of animals and their care allowed the menagerie to expand to 300 animals of 60 species. Many of these animals were gathered as British military control and influence spread across the globe.

Then, in 1828, the London Zoological Society opened a zoo in Regent's Park, which still exists today: the famous London Zoo. At the same time, there was increasing concern about the unsuitable conditions in which the animals were kept — ultimately, most of the animals were relocated to the zoo in Regent's Park.