The ten largest zoos in the world, ranked by land area — from Ohio's sprawling 10,000-acre Wilds Safari Park to Canada's Toronto Zoo.
Quick answer: 1. The Wilds Safari Park, 2. Sri Venkateswara Zoological Park, 3. Monarto Safari Park, 4. North Carolina Zoo, 5. Khao Kheow Open Zoo, 6. San Diego Zoo Safari Park, 7. Arignar Anna Zoological Park, 8. The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens, 9. Nandankanan Zoological Park, 10. Toronto Zoo.
These are the ten largest zoos in the world, ranked by total land area in acres. The list spans open-range conservation parks, accredited natural habitat zoos, and traditional zoological parks across the United States, India, Australia, Thailand, and Canada. When ranking zoos by size, two distinct categories emerge: large open-range wildlife reserves (like The Wilds in Ohio, which covers over 10,000 acres of reclaimed coal mine land) and traditional city zoos with designed enclosures. Both appear on this list, which favours total property area as the primary metric.
The largest wildlife conservation park in North America, spanning approximately 10,000 acres of reclaimed coal mine land in southeastern Ohio. The Wilds is not a traditional zoo but an open-range reserve where endangered species roam freely, including giraffes, rhinos, and antelopes. It operates as a conservation centre and safari-style tourist attraction.
Asia's largest zoo by land area, located in Andhra Pradesh, India. The park spans 5,532 acres of forested landscape where tigers, lions, elephants, and deer live in naturalistic habitats. It opened in 1987 and is managed by the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department.
Australia's largest open-range zoo, established in 1983 near Adelaide, South Australia. Spanning 3,700 acres, Monarto offers a true African-style safari experience with giraffes, zebras, rhinos, and cheetahs roaming across vast savanna-style enclosures. It is operated by Zoos South Australia.
The largest accredited natural habitat zoo in the world, covering 2,600 acres in Asheboro, North Carolina. The zoo is divided into Africa and North America regions, with animals living in spacious, naturalistic habitats. Only about 500 acres are developed, leaving the rest as natural buffer and conservation land.
Thailand's largest zoo and the second largest in Asia, covering 1,976 acres in Chonburi province. The open zoo concept allows visitors to drive or walk through expansive habitats housing over 8,000 animals representing more than 300 species.
The San Diego Zoo's sister park, located in Escondido, California, covering 1,800 acres. The Safari Park features expansive multi-species exhibits where rhinos, giraffes, and antelopes roam together in open-range habitats. It is one of the most visited zoo attractions in the United States.
One of South Asia's largest zoos, spanning 1,490 acres in Vandalur, Chennai, India. The park features a large rescued-animal facility and a diverse collection of 2,389 animals across 178 species, housed in large, naturalistic enclosures.
A desert ecosystem zoo and botanical garden located in Palm Desert, California, covering 1,200 acres. The Living Desert specialises in arid-region species from around the world, with a focus on conservation and education in a stunning desert landscape.
A large zoo and botanical garden located in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India, covering 1,080 acres. Nandankanan is known for its successful white tiger breeding programme and houses over 3,000 animals across 156 species, including a large reptile collection and an orchid house.
Canada's largest zoo, covering 710 acres in Scarborough, Ontario. The zoo is divided into seven zoogeographic regions representing different ecosystems from around the world, including the Indo-Malaya, Africa, and Tundra Trek areas. It houses over 5,000 animals across more than 450 species.
| # | Name | Country | Location | Opened | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Wilds Safari Park | United States | Cumberland, Ohio | 1984 | Open-range conservation park |
| 2 | Sri Venkateswara Zoological Park | India | Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh | 1987 | Zoological park |
| 3 | Monarto Safari Park | Australia | Monarto, South Australia | 1983 | Open-range safari park |
| 4 | North Carolina Zoo | United States | Asheboro, North Carolina | 1974 | Natural habitat zoo |
| 5 | Khao Kheow Open Zoo | Thailand | Chonburi | 1978 | Open zoo |
| 6 | San Diego Zoo Safari Park | United States | Escondido, California | 1972 | Open-range safari park |
| 7 | Arignar Anna Zoological Park | India | Chennai, Tamil Nadu | 1855 | Zoological park |
| 8 | The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens | United States | Palm Desert, California | 1970 | Desert ecosystem zoo |
| 9 | Nandankanan Zoological Park | India | Bhubaneswar, Odisha | 1960 | Zoological park & botanical garden |
| 10 | Toronto Zoo | Canada | Toronto, Ontario | 1974 | Zoological park |
Zoos are ranked by total land area in acres, as reported by official zoo websites, conservation organisations, and industry publications. Only publicly accessible zoological parks, open-range safari parks, and accredited zoos are included; wildlife sanctuaries and non-public conservation reserves are excluded. Areas include all land within the zoo's operational boundaries, including pasture, forest, and visitor facilities. Figures are approximate and may vary depending on the source and year of measurement. Rank 1 is the largest by area.
Traditional zoos house animals in designed enclosures that visitors view from paths or boardwalks. Safari parks (also called open-range zoos) keep animals in large, fenced habitats that visitors drive or ride through. Both are included in this ranking, which measures total land area regardless of the visitor experience model.
Berlin Zoological Garden is one of the most famous zoos in the world and has the largest animal collection (over 20,000 animals), but it covers only about 86 acres. This list ranks by land area, not by animal collection size, so Berlin's zoo does not appear in the top ten.
Both countries have large land areas available for conservation and zoo development. India's zoos often incorporate large forested areas under state forest department management, while the United States has invested in large open-range safari parks focused on conservation and immersive visitor experiences.