Let’s Learn About Zoos Where Where can you go to see lions and tigers and bears You can go to the zoo A trip to the zoo can be very exciting This trip is a chance to see animals you will never find in your backyard or neighborhood park A trip to the zoo is also a great way to learn about animal habitats in faraway places Zoos have been around for thousands of years In the past zoos were very different than they are today Let’s take a trip through the amazing history of zoos and animal parks 4
Ancient Zoos Historians Historians think that the first zoo was started by Queen Hatshepsut in 1500 BCE which was about 3,500 years ago Queen Hatshepsut ruled Egypt The queen loved big cats and exotic animals She sent ships down the coast of Africa They brought back cheetahs and leopards for the queen’s private zoo The ships also brought back beautiful peacocks and a strange tall animal called the giraffe Emperor Wen Wang ruled China 3,000 years ago In those days animals and nature were very important Wen Wang collected a large number of animals in his private zoo He called it The Garden of Intelligence Wen Wang spent a lot of time in his garden He thought about nature as he visited alligators turtles yaks pandas and goats 7
