Subscribe!
It’s National Visit the Zoo Day – and it’s free
Visit the Zoo Day is celebrated on December 27 each year. Although the origins of the day are unclear, we do know that the idea of the zoo stretches as far back as a couple of millennia. The word ‘zoo’ is, in fact, the shortest way to refer to a zoological park or garden. Zoos are typically home to a range of species and function as protective shelters for the animals housed within them.
At Roger Williams Zoo TODAY
Admission is free to all on Monday, December 27th from 10am to 4pm. Share the holiday spirit with the community by bringing non-perishable food items to benefit the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. Cardi’s Furniture & Mattresses is generously donating a truck and staff to help collect and distribute all food items.
Get outside, enjoy the fresh air, and take time with family and friends to experience everything the Zoo has to offer!For a complete list of the food bank’s most needed items: rifoodbank.org/get-involved/donate-food/#needed
TIP: If you go late in the day, you will be just in time to see the lights come on enjoy the spectacular! Tickets are required if you are going to walk through – and must be secured, online, at: https://www.rwpzoo.org/holidaylights.
History of Visit the Zoo Day
An early form of the zoo or zoological garden was called a ‘menagerie’. It is said to have been much smaller than the more modern zoo. The first iterations of zoos were private collections and acted as a show of power. Excavators discovered remnants of a menagerie in Egypt, which they believe dates back to around 3500 B.C. Famous kings such as Alexander the Great of Greece, King Solomon of Israel, and King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia were known animal collectors from their respective times. Evidence of such zoos or collections of animals has also been found in places like China and Rome.
The first ‘modern’ zoo was built in 1793 in Paris, France. This idea of the modern and public zoo appears to have become popular in the 18th century, during the Age of Enlightenment, when science became more of a central pillar to society. Individuals wished to study animals, to better understand their anatomy and behavior, among other things. The city of London also saw its first modern zoo being opened in 1828. Animals from the Tower of London menagerie were added to its collection in due course, with the zoo eventually opening to the public in 1847.
The focus of early modern zoos was not on functioning as natural habitats for the species housed in them. Instead, they were more like museums of living animals kept in small display areas. Zoos today work towards educating and entertaining members of the public, while also furthering scientific research and promoting the conservation of species.
Why We Love Visit the Zoo Day
- It highlights the importance of animal conservation. This day reminds us of how vulnerable animals are to the harmful effects of human development. It is important to be mindful and inclusive of animal life at all times.
- We get to reconnect with animals. With time, humans have seen the divide between themselves and the wildlife growing. This is an important day to reconnect with nature.
- We learn about animals and their habitats. We all read about animals and their habitats in class. But seeing and observing them in real life is perhaps the right way to cap off all those lessons.