American Zoo Day

 

Although the name “zoo” was first created in London after the Zoological Society was established, zoos are an ancient concept. Queen Hatshepsut of Egypt gathered a collection of African animals in 1500 BC in Hierakonpolis. The first zoo on the American continent was discovered in Mexico in 1519 by the explorer Hernán Cortés.

The first modern zoo, Ménagerie, le zoo du Jardin des Plantes, opened in Paris in 1794. A boom in zoos worldwide began in the 19th century, but early zoos were enclosures focused on entertainment and not life span or creature comfort.

Tragically, during World War II, dangerous animals were exterminated to prevent their escape into the general population in the event of a zoo bombing. After World War II, the emphasis changed to the preservation of species, with the breeding of animals close to extinction. Currently, 39 extinct species exist only in zoos. There is a unique science specialty related to captive breeding and its pros and cons.

The Philadelphia Zoo celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2024. The institution opened in 1874 and focused on animal species conservation; today, it houses over 1,300 animals. The most populous zoo is the German Berlin Zoo, which has 1,500 species.

The most popular zoo in the world is the San Diego Zoo, founded in 1916. I had the opportunity to participate in a behind-the-scenes tour of this location, which was fascinating and informative.

Since 1830, the Journal of Zoology has published studies of animal behavior, which have contributed to better living conditions for mammals. You can observe animals in “natural habitats.” The North Carolina Zoo is the world's largest habitat zoo with North American, African, and Desert regions. In 2026, an Asia Continent section will open. North America consists of the following habitats: Prairie, Grizzly Bear, Streamside, Cypress Swamp, Marsh, Rocky Coast, Red Wolf, and Black Bear. There is also a Honey Bee garden. Africa features eight habitats: Baboons, Forest Glade, Lemur Island, Kitera Forest, Zebra/Ostrich & Giraffe, Red River Hogs, Watani Grasslands, and African Lion.

Controversy over the ethical and humane aspects of zoos has bubbled to the surface after the shooting of Harambe the gorilla in 2016. There is a broad spectrum of pros and cons. We love animals and have visited many zoos around the US and the world. However, after traveling abroad and seeing rare animals in the wild, we now cringe at caged creatures.

We have seen Kodiak bears in Alaska, buffalo, elk, and mountain sheep in Montana, giant tortoises and Blue-Footed Boobies in the Galapagos, llamas and a Great Andean Condor in the Ecuadorian Andes, tropical birds and primates in Costa Rica, a plethora of beasts and birds in Botswana, Takin in Bhutan, Pandas in China, and ridden an elephant through the gates of Angor Wat. This is an abbreviated list.

Are you an animal lover? Do you enjoy zoos or animal sanctuaries?

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