The zoo was founded by Zdeněk Sokolíček and opened on 8 August 1965. After the years of the heyday came the criticalphase, which culminated in 1990. There was a choice to either close down the zoo, or invest considerable funds and preserve it. It was decided to renovate the devastated garden, which served primarily as a winter habitat for animals from circuses and menageries. With the arrival of the new director Josef Kachlík steps were taken to develop the old garden into a modernzoo.