The founder of the Dehiwala National Zoological Gardens is considered to be Mr. John Hagenbeck, who descended from a lineage of animal traders in Germany. His arrival in Ceylon is recorded around 1885. Initially, he kept wild elephants captured from forests in an area called Model Farm in Modara until they were shipped to Germany. However, due to lack of space in Model Farm, Modara he purchased a land in extent of about 5 acres around 1905 in the location where the current zoo is situated. Consequently, the wild elephants and other animal species kept at the Modara animal yard were relocated to Dehiwala. In addition to wild elephants, other animal species were also kept at the Dehiwala yard.