Arignar Anna Zoological Park is popularly called Vandalur Zoo. This is a zoological garden that was founded in 1855 and largest of its kind in India. This was the first public zoo in India and spreads over an area of 1490 acres. Some rare species of animals like white tigers are found here. It houses 47 species of mammals, 64 species of birds and 31 species of reptiles and many species of insects, fishes and amphibians.

Initially this zoo was located in the People’s Park at Park Town and later it was shifted here in 1979. There are more than 75 moat enclosures in the park. The deer and jackals are allowed to roam free in the free range zone. In the Otteri Lake situated within its limits have many aquatic migratory birds such as painted stork, white ibis, egrets, pelicans, glossy ibis, moor hen, etc. Every year more than 10,000 migratory birds visit this place.

The 15 minute drive into the safari is organized in which people are allowed to view the animals in their natural habitat. The elephant safari allows the visitors to travel around the zoo on the back of the elephants. There is a butterfly house, amphibian house, crocodile enclosure, world of nocturnal animals, small mammals’ house, aquarium, primate house and reptile house within the premises of the zoo.