Yangon Zoo is located near the Kandawgyi Gardens and the Zoo is noted for its collection of wild animals, flora and fauna which have been collected over the years since it was opened in 1906.

Yangon Zoological Gardens was established in 1901 with the public donation of 240,000 Kyats. The construction started at the present site after clearing 61 acres of virgin soil, but the first collection of wild animals was initiated in 1882 in connection with the Phayre's Museum which was then situated at the present site of the Yangon General Hospital. The collected animals were moved gradually to their new enclosures. The newly established Zoological Gardens, at the side of the Royal Lakes, was named Victoria Memorial Park which was formally opened on January 1906.

A Natural History Museum is also a part of the Zoo, was opened on the 1st of May, 1966. Furthermore, an amusement park was opened on the 7th of October, 1997. The Zoological Garden Amusement Park is also a well-known spot for children and teenagers.

The Zoo today is one of the centre attractions in the city of Yangon for both local and international tourists. Covering an area of 58.16 acres, located near downtown Yangon and lying close to the Great Shwedagon Pagoda, the zoo with it's collection of nearly 200 species of animals and big shady trees, draws nearly 1.5 million visitors annually.

On weekends and Public holidays, snake dances and the elephant circus are performed for visitors. It is open daily from 08:00 to 18:00 hours. The 100th Anniversary of Yangon Zoological Garden was held in 2006 January and the festival was held for a month.