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 ...