Zoo, a place where living animals are kept to be exhibited and studied. The name is a popular abbreviation of zoological garden, and most zoos are gardens or parks containing buildings and other enclosures. Zoos usually keep only wild animals, many of them from distant countries. However, some zoos display domestic animals such as cows and hogs to show to city children who have no chance to visit farms. Children's zoos are sometimes included in zoological gardens. They may have nurseries where children can view young animals, and sometimes have areas where children can pet and feed tame animals.
A zoo is a place where living animals are kept to be exhibited and studied.
The term menagerie also refers to a collection of animals, but usually to one maintained for commercial exhibition and entertainment. Traveling menageries were popular in days when few persons had opportunities to see zoos in large cities, and became one of the elements making up the huge American circuses. Zoo generally means a permanent exhibition where animals are selected and displayed for educational and scientific purposes. Zoos also provide scientists with opportunities to observe the behavior of animals and to conduct research. Zoos are also important centers of wildlife conservation. Many zoos breed endangered species, some of which are extinct in the wild.
Animal Kingdom, Orlando
Animal Kingdom is part of the Disney Theme Park collection in Orlando, Florida. While it’s obviously a commercial zoo, the zookeepers do their best to make sure each animal feels as though he is in a realistic habitat, with plenty of space and as little human distraction as possible. The goal is to make sure that the park promotes conservation as much as possible. Animal Kingdom is home to over 1,500 exotic animals, plus hundreds of fish and bird species!
Beauval Zoo, France
The Beauval Zoo in France originally opened in 1980 as an aviary, housing over 2,000 species of birds alone. It wasn’t until over 10 years later when other animals were introduced to the habitat and the zoo has since grown to over 4,000 animals. Favorites include the zoo’s two white tigers, known as Gorby and Raisa; and the pair of twin manatees, known as Quito and Luna. Make sure you stop by and say hello when you visit!
Bronx Zoo, New York
The Bronx Zoo in New York is the largest zoo you’ll find in a metropolitan location in the United States. The park itself takes up over 250 acres of land and includes a number of endangered and rare species in its collection of over 4,000 animals. Stop by Tiger Mountain to meet the Siberian tigers, visit the stunning 6.5 acre Congo Gorilla Forest for an African safari adventure, or visit Madagascar to meet the lemurs and hissing cockroaches!
National Zoological Gardens of South Africa
Located in Pretoria, the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa leaves nothing to the imagination. As the largest zoo in South Africa, it houses over 2,500 species of animals. Incredibly, most of the animals at the zoo today were bred and born there. The zoo also features a reptile park, the largest aquarium in the entire country, and an extensive collection of exotic trees!
Toronto Zoo
The Toronto Zoo also ranks amongst the largest in the world, spanning over 700 acres and housing over 5,000 animals! Did you know that 2008 is the year of the frog? Zoos around the world are participating in an effort to increase awareness about the dangers threatening amphibians. The Toronto Zoo has dozens of activities planned throughout the entire year in honor of the frog and his friends!
A zoo is a place where living animals are kept to be exhibited and studied.
The term menagerie also refers to a collection of animals, but usually to one maintained for commercial exhibition and entertainment. Traveling menageries were popular in days when few persons had opportunities to see zoos in large cities, and became one of the elements making up the huge American circuses. Zoo generally means a permanent exhibition where animals are selected and displayed for educational and scientific purposes. Zoos also provide scientists with opportunities to observe the behavior of animals and to conduct research. Zoos are also important centers of wildlife conservation. Many zoos breed endangered species, some of which are extinct in the wild.
Animal Kingdom, Orlando
Animal Kingdom is part of the Disney Theme Park collection in Orlando, Florida. While it’s obviously a commercial zoo, the zookeepers do their best to make sure each animal feels as though he is in a realistic habitat, with plenty of space and as little human distraction as possible. The goal is to make sure that the park promotes conservation as much as possible. Animal Kingdom is home to over 1,500 exotic animals, plus hundreds of fish and bird species!
Beauval Zoo, France
The Beauval Zoo in France originally opened in 1980 as an aviary, housing over 2,000 species of birds alone. It wasn’t until over 10 years later when other animals were introduced to the habitat and the zoo has since grown to over 4,000 animals. Favorites include the zoo’s two white tigers, known as Gorby and Raisa; and the pair of twin manatees, known as Quito and Luna. Make sure you stop by and say hello when you visit!
Bronx Zoo, New York
The Bronx Zoo in New York is the largest zoo you’ll find in a metropolitan location in the United States. The park itself takes up over 250 acres of land and includes a number of endangered and rare species in its collection of over 4,000 animals. Stop by Tiger Mountain to meet the Siberian tigers, visit the stunning 6.5 acre Congo Gorilla Forest for an African safari adventure, or visit Madagascar to meet the lemurs and hissing cockroaches!
National Zoological Gardens of South Africa
Located in Pretoria, the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa leaves nothing to the imagination. As the largest zoo in South Africa, it houses over 2,500 species of animals. Incredibly, most of the animals at the zoo today were bred and born there. The zoo also features a reptile park, the largest aquarium in the entire country, and an extensive collection of exotic trees!
Toronto Zoo
The Toronto Zoo also ranks amongst the largest in the world, spanning over 700 acres and housing over 5,000 animals! Did you know that 2008 is the year of the frog? Zoos around the world are participating in an effort to increase awareness about the dangers threatening amphibians. The Toronto Zoo has dozens of activities planned throughout the entire year in honor of the frog and his friends!
