Zoos are primarily used to educate and entertain the public, but they also help with species conservation and scientific research pertaining to specific animal species. That’s why they’re important to not only individuals but also to society as a whole. Of course, they can only do their job if the public continues to support them.

One way to support your local zoo is by observing Zoo Day on the 27th of December each year. This holiday encourages everyone to visit their local zoo and show them the support they so desperately deserve. After all, it’s important to support them so that they can continue to do the work that they do.

The History Of Visit The Zoo Day

Near the end of the 18th century, the first modern zoo was built in Paris, France. From that point on, zoos began to spread all across Europe and North America. In 1828, a modern zoo was opened in London and in 1874, the first zoo in the U.S opened in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Although the history of zoos in the world is well known, the history of this holiday isn’t. We, unfortunately, don’t know who invented it, when it was invented or where it was invented. All that we know is that it’s been around for at least 5-years and is observed by people all around the world.

Important Facts About Zoos

Below are some facts that we’ve learned about zoos that we would like to now share with everyone. Let’s take a look at them before we talk about how Visit the Zoo Day is observed.

• In the U.S, there are over 350+ zoos.
• There are almost 40 different species that exist only in zoos and are extinct in the wild.
• The first U.S public zoo was called the Central Park Zoo.
• Over 181 million people visit U.S zoos and aquariums each year.
• The two types of zoos are Urban Zoos and Open-Range Zoos.

Observing Visit The Zoo Day

On this day, everyone should take a moment and visit their local zoo. Pack up the family and head to a zoo. For most parts of the U.S, December isn’t a very popular time for people visiting the zoo, so it should be free of crowds. We encourage everyone observing this holiday to spread the word about this using the hashtag #VisitTheZooDay on social media.