The Architect of the then Modern Mysore State , His Highness Sri Chamarajendra Wodeyar was also the creator of what was to become the famous Mysore Zoo in the year 1892.. He engaged Mr. G.H. Krumbeigal, a German landscaper and horticulturist who had created the beautiful and now well-known Brindavan Gardens in Mysore and the Cubbon Park at Bangalore. Sri Chamarajendra Wodeyar being a lover of nature was responsible for establishing many parks and gardens.  The Bandipur Sanctuary and the Zoo were established during his time with the intention of entertaining important guests by providing them an opportunity to see the wild animals he loved so much.  While the Zoo had been found on just 10 acres, after some time it was expanded to 45 acres.  An Australian by name Mr. Hugh was selected to head the expanded Zoo as the Superintendent. On realising the popularity of the Zoo after 10 years of its beginning, the Maharaja felt it would be appropriate to open the institution to the public.

During those days only a few Zoos were established in different provinces in India by Maharajas, Nawabs and the British Rulers.  They were established in Madras, Trivandrum, Kolkatta, Mysore, Lucknow and Victoria Garden at Bombay.  A little later, Zoo came up in Baroda and Jaipur as well.  Among these Madras, Kolkatta, Mysore and Trivandrum Zoos were considered as the best zoos in the country.

When the Maharajas visited the European countries and Africa, they used to select interesting animals such as chimpanzees, giraffe , antelopes, primates, birds and bears.
 
 At that time acquiring of animals was not difficult because we had many wild animals from our own forest to give in exchange.  There were many knowledgeable dealers.  The Ruhe Firm in Germany was a close associate of Mysore Zoo for more than eight decades.  Mr. Albert Meems, a colleague of Mr. Ruhe, travelled along with animals to Mysore Zoo many a time. He had an encyclopaedic knowledge of wild animals and he was able to guide the management of Mysore Zoo each time he visited the zoo.

He ensured that brochures, guide-books and animal picture cards were brought out giving information on each species so that the visitors would learn something about the wildlife of India and the world.

 Another feature of Mysore Zoo was its role as “Orphanage” for rearing abandoned animals such as the calves of elephant and gaur, tiger and leopard cubs and many other young ones.  In addition, it was the place where elephant calves which were caught in Khedda were reared and subsequently sent abroad to various zoos.
 
Breeding of many exotic animals such as zebra, wild bear or Eland Antelope, Barbery sheep, Emus, giraffe & Kangaroos were done successfully in Mysore Zoo and distributed to various Zoos in the country and abroad.  

In the year 1948 after the advent of our country’s Independence, the zoo was gifted from the palace to the administrative control of what was then called the Parks and Gardens Department along with the staff.  Mr. Anantharamaiah was the Superintendent of the Zoo till the year 1960. Under the management of Parks and Gardens Department, the Zoo flourished for a period of 24 years.   After this, from 1960 the Zoo Management in general underwent many changes.  Significant programmes such as breeding of indigenous fauna apart from exotic animals and a number of expansion schemes were implemented during this period.  Dr. M.H.Marigowda, who had been educated at Harvard and worked in Kew Gardens, was the Director of Parks and Gardens.
 
A great visionary ,Dr. M.H.Marigowda felt that the 45 acres of the Zoo was not sufficient to house the animals.   He wanted to provide spacious enclosures with a natural setting for the welfare of the animals. It was Dr. Marigowda who initiated the systematic propagation of  wild fauna in the Zoo, just as he did for plants in the Botanical Gardens.

Dr. Marigowda convinced the Government to acquire 50 acres of Kensington Gardens along with the famous Thandi Sadak (meaning “Cool Path ”) from the palace.  In addition, he succeeded in acquiring 5 acres of land towards western side including the road from C.I.T.B. Mysore and 50 additional acres from the Government.  This also included 150 Acres of Karanji Tank area which was added to the Zoo. Today the Zoo is spread over 250 acres, right in the center of Mysore.