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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