Zoological Park Thiruvananthapuram is one of India's oldest Zoo. Similarly the Museum and Botanical Gardens are also one of the country's oldest of its kind. Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma (1816-1846), an illustrious king and music composer who ruled Travancore in 1830-1846, was the visionary behind the establishment of the Thiruvananthapuram Museum and Zoo. He had a strong collection of animals like elephants in his horse breeding center.However, it was left to his brother Uthram Thirunal Marthanda Varma and the then British Resident General Cullen which led to the establishment of Napier Museum and Zoo in Thiruvananthapuram. In 1855, a committee was formed with Travancore's Maharaja as patron, General Cullen as president, The Elaya Raja as vice president, and Mr. Allen Brown as committee secretary and museum director.In September 1857 the Museum was thrown open to the public. The zoo was originally constructed with the traditional iron-barred cages that existed at the time and was intended for recreational purposes, but with increased loss of forest and wildlife due to human growth, the zoo 's goal has shifted from recreation to conservation.
