Visiting a local zoo can be a great activity for a family to do together. It’s an activity that just about everyone loves to do, and it can help teach adults and children alike about some of the different animal species that exist. It’s a good reason for people to plan an outing with their friends and/or family at their local zoo on April 8, so they can enjoy National Zoo Lovers Day. We’re sure the lions, tigers, and bears are all eager to see you as much as you are eager to see them.

The History Of Zoos

Even though we were unable to uncover the history behind National Zoo Lovers Day, we did find some great history about how long zoos have been around and who invented them. We found out that the first zoos were created around 2500 BCE in Mesopotamia and Egypt. These menageries were established for the ruling class and contained exotic animals brought from distant places all over the globe.

Some of these early menageries had bears, dolphins, exotic birds, giraffes, and even elephants. Of course, zoos also existed in other parts of the world, with scientists finding evidence for them in China, Ancient Greece, and Ancient Rome.

In the Western Hemisphere, the Aztec ruler Montezuma II maintained a large animal collection, one of the earliest animal collections in that part of the world. It was eventually destroyed during the Spanish conquest in 1520 by Hernan Cortes.

The earliest “modern” public zoo would be first opened in Paris, France, in 1793. During the French Revolution, revolution leaders took the menageries of French aristocrats and royalty and relocated them to the Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes. This zoo is still in operation to this day. In the U.S., the Philadelphia Zoo was established by the Zoological Society of Philadelphia on March 21, 1859. It would not officially open until July 1, 1874, however, due to the American Civil War.

Some Fun Facts About Zoos

Below are just a small handful of the fun facts that we came across while we were researching this holiday. We hope you enjoy them.

• Over 600 million people worldwide visit zoos every year.
• There are more than 2,800 zoos and aquariums found all over the world.
• There are over 355 zoos in the United States.
• Busch Gardens Tampa Bay receives about 4.5 million visitors a year.
• The Saint Louis Zoo is home to over 12,000 animals that represent more than 500 different species.
• Germany has more than 414 registered zoos.

Observing National Zoo Lovers Day

National Zoo Lovers Day can easily be celebrated by just visiting your local zoo and enjoying all they have to offer. You can do this by yourself, or you can bring friends and family with you as you check out all of the different animal species. And while you’re at the zoo, why not take some pictures of the animals and post them on social media using the hashtag #NationalZooLoversDay