Arignar Anna Zoological Park, also known as the Vandalur Zoo, is a zoological garden located in Vandalur, is in the southwestern part of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, about 31 kilometres from the Chennai Central and 15 kilometres from Chennai Airport. Established in 1855, it is the First public zoo in India. Vandalur Zoo is originally created in 1855 near Park Town, Chennai City. Later in 1875, this zoo had expanded and moved out of the city. In 1979, the Tamil Nadu Forest department moved this zoo to Vandalur reserve forest covering an area of 1300 acres.