Zoo Basel, affectionately nicknamed “Zolli” by locals, opened on July 3, 1874, making it the oldest zoo in Switzerland. Tucked into about 11 hectares in the heart of Basel, it has grown into the country’s largest zoo by animal population, drawing more than a million visitors a year to see its dense, walkable collection of wildlife.
Despite its modest footprint, Zoo Basel has built an outsized reputation in the conservation world. It runs more than 40 breeding programs for endangered species and has notched several zoo-world firsts, including the first captive-bred Indian rhinoceros in 1956. Every Somali wild ass living in a zoo anywhere today traces its lineage back to the Basel population.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Basel, Switzerland
- Opened: July 3, 1874
- Size: About 11 hectares (27 acres)
- Species/Animal Count: About 602 species, roughly 11,400 animals (2024)
- Annual Visitors: About 1.2 million (2024)
- Famous For: First zoo-bred Indian rhinoceros (1956) and global Somali wild ass breeding program
A Compact Zoo Built on Conservation
Zoo Basel packs an unusually dense and varied collection into a relatively small site. Visitors can move between exhibits for primates, big cats, pachyderms, and an aviary within a short walk, a layout that has stayed largely intact even as the zoo has modernized individual habitats over the decades.
The zoo’s conservation record is part of what sets it apart from larger institutions. Its breeding successes with cheetahs, okapis, and pygmy hippopotamuses, along with more than 400 recorded flamingo hatches, have made it a reference point for European zoos working on species recovery programs.
Looking Ahead: Zolli 2049
In late 2024, Zoo Basel began rolling out a long-term redevelopment plan known as “Zolli 2049,” aimed at modernizing enclosures and visitor spaces over the coming decades while keeping the zoo’s historic core intact.
The zoo has also earned international recognition, including a spot among Forbes Traveler’s fifteen best zoos worldwide in 2008 and a ranking as the seventh-best zoo in Europe by the Zoological Society of London in 2009.
Explore more: More Zoos & Aquariums.
Zoo Basel FAQs
When did Zoo Basel open?
Zoo Basel opened on July 3, 1874, making it the oldest zoo in Switzerland.
Why is Zoo Basel nicknamed “Zolli”?
Basel locals gave the zoo the affectionate nickname “Zolli” shortly after it opened, and the name has stuck ever since.
How many animals live at Zoo Basel?
As of the end of 2024, Zoo Basel housed about 11,400 animals across roughly 602 species, making it Switzerland’s largest zoo by animal population.
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Photo: Unbekannte Autoren und Grafiker; Scan vom EDHAC e.V. / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.