While the concept of keeping animals in enclosures for display predates recorded history, the first documented zoo is generally considered to be the "Menagerie" in Egypt, established around 3500 BC.

It was a collection of animals kept by the pharaohs, mainly for hunting and entertainment. However, it's important to note that this was not a zoo in the modern sense. It lacked the conservation and education goals we associate with zoos today.

While the Menagerie is widely accepted as the first, there are other early examples, such as the "Hanging Gardens of Babylon", which may have included animal enclosures. Ultimately, pinning down the absolute "first" is difficult due to the lack of clear documentation from those eras.