Each year on April 8th, National Zoo Lovers Day encourages us to explore our local zoos. Each year millions of people visit zoos and learn about the many animals that live there. Also known as zoological parks, many of them serve as breeding centers. These facilities are relied upon when species are endangered or at risk of becoming endangered. They also provide education to the public about a broad variety of animals and their habitats.
Enjoy seeing your favorite animals swinging from the trees or splashing in the water and have a fun-filled day.
A few zoo facts:
- The Vienna Zoo is the oldest existing zoo and was opened to the public in 1765.
- The United State’s first zoo open to the public, Central Park Zoo, opened in 1864 in New York.
- Philadelphia Zoo holds the oldest zoo charter, formed in 1859. It officially opened to the public in 1874.
- There are 350 zoos in the United States
- Approximately 175 million people visit a zoo each year.
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom has had more than 9.8 million annual visitors.
- More than 3.2 million people visit the San Diego Zoo each year.
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL ZOO LOVERS DAY
- Visit your local zoo.
- Make a donation to a zoo program.
- Share your zoo experiences with others.
- Take a virtual tour of a zoo. There are many different kinds of zoos. Take a virtual tour of this reptile zoo and learn about the reptiles that live there.
- Use #NationalZooLoversDay to post on social media.
