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 not only to 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 December 27th 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 the work 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 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. Unfortunately, we don’t know who invented it, when it was invented, or where it was invented. All we know is that it has been around for at least five 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 to 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 it using the hashtag #VisitTheZooDay on social media.