The A to Z on Animals to Zoos

We all know that animals in a zoo are different from pets at home—and, sure, it’s fun to go see them, but why don’t we just let these animals live in the wild?

Why do we have zoos?

Millions of people visit zoos each year for fun, but did you know that recreation is just one of the many reasons we have zoos?

The primary mission of most zoos is to help people understand the complexities of the animal kingdom.

There are, however, five main functions of a modern zoo:

1.       Conservation

2.       Reproduction

3.       Education

4.       Research

5.       Recreation

Zoos have really helped protect endangered species on our planet. If it weren’t for zoos, many species would be extinct today. 

The bigger purpose of zoo education is not just to teach about animals, or even our relationship with animals, but also to teach about the entire natural world and our place in it. Zoos typically offer guided tours, workshops for students, teachers, and the general public, lectures, and other activities to promote animal education. Many also have programs with local colleges and offer apprenticeships to people interested in zoo-related careers.

Zoology (the study of animals) divides the vast and complex animal kingdom into different categories based on characteristics.

What do you know about the different categories of animals?

Amphibians
Amphibians are cold-blooded, smooth-skinned animals. This class of animals includes frogs, toads, salamanders, and newts. Some live on land and some in the water, but most species return to the water to mate and lay eggs.

Arthropods
Arthropods make up the largest category of animals and include the insects, arachnids, crustaceans, and others. Arthropods are characterized by the possession of a segmented body with appendages on each segment. All arthropods are covered by a hard outer covering for protection. More than 80% of described living animal species are arthropods, with over a million modern species.

Birds
Birds are any of various warm-blooded, egg-laying, feathered vertebrates (which means they have backbones), having forelimbs modified to form wings.

Mammals
Mammals are one class of animals that have backbones, are warm-blooded, breath air and whose females have milk-secreting glands for their young. There are over 5,000 species of mammals, ranging from the 2-inch shrew to the 120-foot whale.

Fish
Fish are cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates usually having scales and breathing through gills. There are over 27,000 species of fish, making them the most diverse group of vertebrates.

Reptiles
Reptiles are vertebrates that regulate body temperature externally, have dry, glandless skin covered with scales, breathe through lungs, and lay large eggs that develop on land. Reptiles include turtles, snakes, and lizards.
 

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