A Visit to the Zoo

What is a Zoo?

• A zoo is a park that cares for many animals that live on land.

• People enjoy zoos because we can learn about other parts of the world where different animals live in the wild.

• It’s fun to watch them play together. Sometimes they play with us.

What is a Zoo?

• At the zoo we discover what animals like to eat and drink, and when they like to sleep and play.

• Let’s go make friends with the animals at the zoo!

What is a Zoo?

• Many animals live at a zoo. They may have been hurt and can’t live without help from people.

• Some come from families that have always had people take care of them.

• A zoo is a safe place for these animals to live.

Biomes and Ecosystems

• A biome is a part of the earth that is mostly land, fresh water or salt water.

Biomes and Ecosystems

• There are lots of things that live on the Earth. Some of them we can see because they are so big, and some are so small that we have to use microscopes to see them.

Biomes and Ecosystems• When we study how

plants, animals and microbes live together in their biome we are observing their ecosystem.

• You need a microscope to see which one? A plant, animal or microbe

Biomes and Ecosystems• A zoo will have animals that live on land. Other

animals live in fresh water or salt water. • Zoos and aquariums have animals from different

biomes. • What kind of animals do you find in an aquarium? • Which biome do you live in?

Biomes and Ecosystems

• Because we are visiting the zoo we will talk about the land biomes and the different types of places where animals live.

• Zoos teach us about an animal’s surroundings and how they survive in the wild.

Ecosystems & Habitats• When we talk about animals

living in the wild we call their home an ecosystem or habitat.

• Many animals living in a zoo will live in a habitat that looks like their wild home.

Ecosystems and Habitats• You’ll find so many

fascinating animal species at the zoo.

• Some will hatch from an egg, others will be born in the water and live on land most of the time.

• Some will sleep all day and be up all night, and others will have wings but not fly.

Ecosystems and Habitats

• A polar bear survives in the Arctic where it’s cold and wet. An alligator will live where it’s very hot and wet.

• Animals live in all kinds of climates but not all animals can live everywhere.

• A polar bear can survive where alligators live. Can an alligator survive in the wild Arctic?

Ecosystems and Habitats• As you can see, climates plays a big roll in how animals survive in

the wild. The earth has many climate regions. • Land animals depend upon how much warmth and light they get

from the sun, and how much water stays on the ground or in the air.

Ecosystems and Habitats• Mix land, temperature, water, plants, animals

and microbes and you have an ecosystem. • You’ll learn all about how these elements

work together on your visit to the zoo.

Ecosystems and Habitats

• Your zoo may have animals that you see near your home.

• They may also have exotic animals that come from far away ecosystems. They come from the same climate so they’re comfortable in your zoo.

• All they need is a healthy diet from the people who work at the zoo.

Ecosystems and Habitats• Some zoos have

made special habitats just so you can enjoy seeing these animals.

• You may have to go into a building that has the temperature and lighting just right for an animal to be comfortable.

Ecosystems and Habitats• Let’s pretend that you

live in Arizona, U.S.A. The climate is very hot and dry. Much of Arizona is desert.

• You will find many animals known as reptiles in the desert. A lizard is a reptile.

• It depends on the sun, air, sand and rocks to keep warm and active.

Ecosystems and Habitats

• A large mammal like a moose wouldn’t do well in the desert.

• It makes its own heat by eating a lot of food. • It keeps cool by drinking a lot of water. • Birds keep warm and cool by eating and drinking too.

Ecosystems and Habitats

• Smaller mammals like rabbits do better in the desert because they don’t need to drink as much as a moose.

• They can find shade easier than a huge animal.

Exotic Species

• Sometimes living microbes, plants and animals are brought into a wild ecosystem. There are many ways this can happen.

• For example, many plant seeds get stuck in fur or feathers. As the animal travels, the seeds fall off to grow in a different ecosystem.

Exotic Species• Sometimes the

climate changes in an ecosystem. It gets hotter or colder, or wetter or dryer.

• Plants and animals that are living there find it hard to survive with the new climate.

• Other plants and animals move there and take over the area. This is called invasion.

Exotic Species

• Exotic species will invade an ecosystem if conditions are right for it to be nourished, mature and reproduce.

• If there are no microbes or predators to eliminate the new species it will change the ecosystem so that the things that used to live there die or find a new home.

Animal Behavior• Now that you

understand how environment, species and food work together, let’s look at animal behavior.

Animal Behavior

• It’s easy to observe animal behavior at the zoo. You’ll also learn how they behave in their natural habitats.

• There are many things that influence how animals acts for themselves or with each other.

Animal Behavior• At the zoo you’ll find many examples of group

behavior and individual behavior of animals. • Sometimes animals will all do the same things

together.

Animal Behavior

• Sometimes they will work together but each animal will have a different job.

• At other times, an animal will act on its own.

• Let’s use some words you’ll hear at the zoo to describe animal behavior.

Animal Behavior

• If a large group of four legged animals become afraid the HERD will move in the same direction.

• If a FLOCK of birds are migrating they will fly in formation.

Animal Behavior

• Each wolf in a PACK has a special job when hunting. • A lion has its PRIDE. • These are just a few group names. • Ask people what words they use to describe animal

groups and you’ll have more fun than a BARREL of monkeys!

Animal Behavior• How do animals of the same species act with each

other when they are relaxed or sleepy? • What do they do when they are afraid? • Do they play together? • Are there any babies with their mother or father?

Animal Behavior

• How does an animal act when it feels threatened?

• Does it change color, play dead, run away or fight?

Animal Behavior

• How does the time of day affect an animal species?

• At what time do they rest? When are they active or hungry?

• Do you think animals can sense changes in the time of day? What clues do they get?

Animal Behavior

• How does the weather affect animals?

• When they sense bad weather coming how do they prepare?

Animal Behavior

• Do the seasons affect the behavior of the animals at your zoo?

• How would they act differently if they lived in their natural ecosystem when the seasons changed?

A Visit to the Zoo

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A Visit to the Zoo

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