Different Worlds Let’s go to the zoo! By Michele Roest
Photo courtesy Americas Teaching Zoo
The Central Coast is home to a surprising number of raptor species, and you can view several of them in the aviary at America’s Teaching Zoo.
People have always been fascinated by the shapes, sizes, and colors of exotic animals. Zoos have been depicted in wall carvings dating back to ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. In the 1800s, zoos were kept by wealthy landowners who could afford to maintain them. American publisher and newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst had a private menagerie; some of the old animal enclosures can be seen on tours of Hearst Castle in San Luis Obispo County, and there are still over 100 zebras living on the property. Aquariums were invented in the 1800s to keep and observe colorful species of fish. Historically, the word “zoo” is an abbreviation for “zoological garden.” Modern zoos and aquariums (sometimes called aquaria or oceanariums) continue to be magnets for people who enjoy learning about the natural world. Besides providing education and entertainment, zoos fulfill important conservation roles for wildlife. Some establish captive breeding programs for endangered species that may be introduced back into wild populations; others conduct veterinary research on animal diseases; and all share valuable information in conferences and publications. Zoos and aquariums also have important roles in public education and inspiring stewardship for wildlife in people of all ages. Here on the Central Coast, we have several zoos and aquariums to visit. 20
Fall 2021
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