Visit the Zoo Day takes place on December 27th, right in the middle of the winter holidays. Celebrate this year by visiting your local zoo!

Almost everyone has special memories of visiting the zoo as a child, watching the gorillas with their human-like expressions, or staring in wonder at the lions peacefully basking in the sun. Zoos can both entertain and inform the people who visit, but did you know that zoos do much more than this? Here are a few major benefits provided by zoos.

Education

By visiting a zoo, people have the opportunity to learn more about nature and animals. While every zoo is unique, common educational offerings include on-grounds programs, school presentations and online informational resources.

For example, the Honolulu Zoo runs a camp program that immerses children in various aspects of the animal world. Kids learn about different animals and their habitats and get hands-on experience while they learn. In case adults feel left out, the Honolulu Zoo also offers "Snooze at the Zoo," a program that includes education, tours and a behind-the-scenes look at park operations.

These types of programs do more than offer entertainment. By strengthening the connection between humans and wildlife, young visitors may become the next generation of wildlife advocates and nature conservationists.

Additionally, there are programs specifically designed to teach the public the importance of conservation and sustainable practices. This type of education is particularly important because it promotes awareness, garners support for wildlife preservation, advocates responsible stewardship, and raises money to fund critical conservation efforts.

Research

Zoos provide an excellent opportunity to develop and implement scientific research. Valuable insights can be gained from studying animals in a controlled environment that would be much more challenging in the wild. Research conducted by zoos covers a diverse range of topics, including:

•       Animal behavior

•       Wildlife biology

•       Optimal breeding conditions

•       Population dynamics

•       Migration patterns

•       Patterns of genetic diversity

•       Technologies for tracking large birds

•       Wildlife social structures

By being able to study animal behavior and explore the best methods for preserving threatened species, zoo research can provide the insight needed to save species and their habitats.

Conservation

While the survival of wildlife can be aided by both education and research, zoos also provide direct support and money to conservation programs. These programs are important because many animal species increasingly face endangerment due to developments such as:

•       Threats from climate change

•       A rise in wildlife poaching

•       Destruction of natural habitats

•       Loss of genetic variation

Zoos offer threatened and endangered animals an environment safe from poachers and developers. They can also help protect the survival of an entire species with their captive breeding programs that aim to find ideal genetic matches. These efforts have saved a number of species, including the Arabian oryx, the black-footed ferret, the golden lion tamarin, the red wolf, the Przewalski's horse, the European bison, the California condor and the common dormouse. In total, the populations of more than 100 species have recovered due to zoo programs that provide captive breeding.

The American Species Survival Plan is one example of a program that continues to make a big impact. Created by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums nearly 40 years ago, the program's mission is to ensure the continued survival of threatened and endangered species. Scientifically controlled breeding is used to maintain genetically diverse populations of select species, and whenever feasible, the animals are released into their natural habitats.

In addition to these direct conservation efforts, zoos also donate money and personnel to help protect animals and their habitats in the wild. American zoos donate over $200 million each year to support conservation efforts worldwide.

Many zoos also participate and help fund local conservation efforts. The Honolulu Zoo, for example, partners with community organizations designed to protect everything from Hawaiian plants to snails to birds to butterflies!

With Visit the Zoo Day right around the corner, plan your visit now. Your family can discover more about animals and their behaviors, make lasting memories, and help support zoo efforts to improve the outlook for wildlife and their habitats worldwide.