The zoo at Yuanshan began in private hands during the Japanese occupation, was purchased by the local authority, and finally taken over by the city council at the end of the war.
圓山動物園其實是「台北市立動物園」的俗稱，日據時代原為日本人大江氏的私人動物園，後被日本台北廳收購擴建為官營動物園，光復後又被台北市政府接管，從此便與台北市民結下不解之緣。