His predecessors on the Silesian land were two non-existent municipal zoological gardens - in Bytom and in Katowice. Construction works at the area of ​​the future zoo began in 1954, and the official opening ceremony took place four years later, in 1958. Since its inception, the Silesian Zoological Garden has been constantly developing. Since the late 1950s, new catwalks and animal exhibitions have been systematically created over the next decades.

After a period of very intense development, a period of stagnation came in the 1980s. The last objects, created at the time when the zoo was still part of the WPKiW, were the so-called cottages: for lemurs and for flamingos, as well as two aviaries for birds of prey. In 2007, a new educational pavilion was also created.

The situation of permanent underfunding of the garden has changed with the transformation of the zoo into the budgetary unit of the Śląskie Voivodeship, which took place in August 2008. Since then, the Silesian zoo has returned to the development path - new exhibitions are being created and the quality of animal life is systematically improved.

The Silesian zoo covers an area of ​​almost 48 ha and lies within the borders of three cities: Chorzów, Siemianowice Śląskie and Katowice. For many years, the zoo was administratively owned by Katowice and for this reason it is widely known - especially abroad - as the Katowice Zoo.

Nowadays, the Silesian Zoological Garden is inhabited by approximately 2,700 animals from over 300 species. Among them are many rare and endangered animals, including Asian elephants, white rhinoceros, giraffes, addaks, orikies, strangles, cheetahs, snow leopards, small pandas, gibbons, capers, lemurs, white-throated tamarines, golden-veined lions, Manchurian cranes, white-tailed eagles, pelicans and recently enlarged group of parrots. A large group in the Silesian zoo collection are also freshwater and marine fish. In total, 30 species exhibited in Chorzów participate in the European Breeding Program (EEP), and for the next 18 European Book of Pedigree (ESB) is conducted.

The Silesian zoo for many years participated in the program of reindroduction of the eagle owl on the Wolin Island. From 2013, he participates in the reindroduction of the Ural owl in the Alps. In addition, he has been cooperating with the IWW Institute in Berlin for a project of reproduction of white rhinoceroses using the in vitro method.

The educational activity of the Silesian zoo has been developing more and more dynamically for several years. The number of organized classes and workshops increases every year, competitions and exhibitions are organized. There are many interesting publications available for visitors. The attractions for the youngest have also been popular for years: the Dinosaur Rock Basin, playgrounds and the mini zoo open from May to September.

Since 1993, the Silesian zoo is one of the members of the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA), and in 2018 joined the Eurasian Regional Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EARAZA) and the International Association of Zoo-Educators (IZE).