In old times of Iran, it was common to have small exhibitions of animals and birds for families in some houses; some times there were exhibitions in some parts of the cities. In 1637, Adam Olorius, the German traveler had mentioned seeing a zoo in Isfahan (the capital of the Safavid Empire).[2] At Fath-Ali Shah Qajar's era, around 1809, there used to be exhibitions of baboons, apes, snakes, bears and lions in Sabze Meidan, Tehran. Also, there was a permanent exhibition of elephants at elephant house in Darolkhalafeh and the Indian elephants were used in especial occasions. In Qajari era, the first zoo was not established until Naser al-Din Shah Qajar established it at Lakhti Street (Sadi). It was small and few people were visiting it. Later, when Naser al-Din Shah Qajar traveled to Europe he was inspired by the modern zoological gardens. He established the Tehran Zoological Garden at Doshan Tappeh, where there was already a mansion established from 1853 containing a lake using qanat as the water source. It was built for Nasereddin Shah's excursions and a collection of 4 lions from the mountains of Shiraz, 3 tigers from Mazandaran, 3 leopards and a cheetah from Jajrud, 5 bears from Damavand, and striped