25 zoo conversation questions
Zoo conversation questions.
This is an interesting discussion activity all about zoos. The difficult words to revise before discussing the questions are -cruel, feed, fed, cage, aquarium, nocturnal, enclosure, benefit, ridden, bathe, and perform.
The zoo conversation questions are –
Do you like visiting zoos? What animals do you like to look at most?
Is there a zoo near you? What is it like? What animals does it keep?
Do you think it is cruel to put animals in zoos? Why or why not?
Have you ever fed an animal at a zoo? What animal did you feed?
What do you think is the best thing to feed a giraffe? How about a crocodile?
How is a safari park different from a zoo? Have you ever been to one?
How would you go about cleaning a lion’s cage?
What water animals are kept in zoos?
Have you ever been to an aquarium? What was the biggest animal you saw?
Which zoo animals are mostly nocturnal and sleep during the day?
How often do you think elephants need a bath? Would you like to bathe one?
How big do you think a tiger enclosure should be? What should be in it?
In what ways can zoos benefit an animal species?
Have you ever ridden or petted an animal at a zoo? What animal was it?
Which countries do you think have the best zoos? How about the worst zoos?
Do you think any animals are happy in zoos? Which animals?
If you were a zookeeper and a gorilla stopped eating, what would you do?
What kinds of things are sold in zoo gift shops?
Are there any zoo animals you don’t like to see?
What do you think happens in zoos during the night?
What reasons would a zookeeper have to kill an animal?
What things would you want if you had to live the rest of your life in a zoo?
What do you think of animals performing in zoos and aquariums?
How do you think an animal ends up in a zoo?
Zoo and related idioms
If we call a place a zoo we are saying that it is very crowded or even chaotic in nature. We may use this expression to describe a busy place in a city such as a supermarket or anywhere else where large numbers of people gather together.
If you rattle someone’s cage you irritate and make them angry.
A person who lives in a gilded cage has lots of money, lives a life of luxury but is unhappy usually because they don’t have freedom or love.
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English Discussion on Zoos
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THE DISCUSSION ON ZOOS
STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to Student B.)
STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to Student A.)
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Zoo Animals Lesson Plan
Lesson plans for esl kids teachers, this lesson plan is free.
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- Time: 40 mins - 1 hour
- Objectives: Saying zoo animals and animal noises
- Structures: “Let’s go to ...”, “What will we see at ...?”
- Target Vocab: zoo, lion, elephant, monkey, tiger, snake, birds
Lesson Materials:
- Flashcards: lion, elephant, monkey, tiger, snake, birds
- Printables:
- - Animals 3 worksheet
- - At the Zoo worksheet
- - Reader worksheet
- - Let’s Go to the Zoo Song Poster
- - Warm Up & Wrap Up lesson sheet
- Readers: Sammy Snake's Birthday Party
- Songs: Let’s Go to the Zoo song
- Additional Materials:
- - Zoo animals vocab crossword
- - Zoo animals vocab word search
- - colored crayons / pencils
- - plastic zoo animal toys
- - CD / Tape player / Computer or something to play the song on
Other Lesson Plans
- Intro Lesson (Ages 3-7)
- Intro Lesson (Ages 8-12)
- Actions, Verbs & Tenses:
- Can - for Ability
- Morning Routines
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- Actions - Present Continuous
- Future Plans using "going to"
- Past Tense Activities - Regular Verbs
- Past Tense Activities - Irregular Verbs: Part 1
- Past Tense Activities - Irregular Verbs: Part 2
- Adjectives:
- Describing People
- Describing Things
- Comparing Things (Comparative Adjectives)
- Comparing Things (Superlative Adjectives)
- Adverbs of frequency
- Farm Animals
- Pets & Possessions
- Zoo Animals
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- Measuring Parts of the Body
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- Wheels on the Bus
This lesson helps to build up animal vocabulary (especially if done after the Farm Animals lesson ) and introduces the phrase "Let's go to ...".
Lesson Procedure:
Warm up and maintenance:.
See our " Warm Up & Wrap Up " page.
New Learning and Practice:
1. Teach the zoo animals vocab If you have plastic toys for the animals you can use them or you can use zoo animal flashcards . Before the class put the toys or flashcards in a bag. Bring out the bag and peer in – make surprised noises to get the full attention of your students. Slowly, inch by inch, pull out the animals – elicit /teach/chorus the animal name "e.g. What's this? It's a (lion). (Lion), (Lion), (Lion)". Then teach/chorus the animal noise (E.g. "What noise does a lion make?" "Roar!").
If you have completed the Farm Animals lesson previously, you can include the farm animal flashcards in this game.
4. Sing the " Let's Go to the Zoo " song Before the song, run through the actions in the correct order of the song. It will help to have the flashcards in order on the board or use our song sheet. Play the song and have everyone doing the actions as they sing along.
Chorus: Zoo, zoo, Let's go to the zoo, What will we see at the zoo?
Zoo, zoo, Let's go to the zoo, What will we see at the zoo?
Verse 1: Lion, we will see a lion, Elephant, we will see an elephant, Monkey, we will see a monkey, Let's go to the zoo!
Verse 2: Tiger, we will see a tiger, Snake, we will see a snake, Birds, we will see some birds, Let's go to the zoo!
( download MP3 here )
Gestures for the "Let's Go to the Zoo" song
The gestures are fun and mimic the animals being sung about:
1. For the "Zoo, zoo, Let's go to the zoo", have everyone walking on the spot as they walk to the zoo.
2. For the next line "What will we see at the zoo?", have everyone put their hand above their eyes as they search for animals.
3. For the animal parts do the following:
- lion: look fierce and roar
- elephant: make a trunk with your arm and make the trumpet noise
- monkey: do the money scratching head and armpit gesture whilst saying "ooh-ooh"
- tiger: look fierce and roar
- snake: make a snake shape with your hands and hiss like a snake
- birds: flap your arms like wings and say "tweet-tweet"
We also have a video that you can stream in class to sing along with (Internet connection required):
5. Play "Animals Walk" game Have everybody stand at one end of the classroom. First model: hold up a flashcard of a lion. Shout "Run like a lion!" – then get down and crawl across the room like a lion all the time roaring. Then have everyone do it. Then do for all the other animals (e.g. "Stomp like an elephant!", etc.).
7. Read classroom reader " Sammy Snake's Birthday Party " This classroom reader ties in perfectly with the lesson vocab. Before class, download and print off the reader "Sammy Snake's Birthday Party" . As you go through each page, point to the animals and elicit the vocabulary and the noises each animal makes:
There are some new animals in the story which haven't been introduced in the lesson yet (zebra, bear, panda) - this is fine: elicit and teach the animal vocabulary and noises they make. Your students will pick these words up quickly as the story progresses (and when you read the story again in later lessons).
Try to get the students really involved in the story by asking lots of questions - e.g. by eliciting the food items, colors and even asking students to speculate what food Sammy the Snake will want at his party).
After reading the story, give out a reader worksheet to each student and have everyone match the animals to the food they gave to Sammy Snake. Then go through the answers as a class.
Alternatively, watch our video version of the reader (Internet connection required):
8. Do " Zoo Animals " worksheet Use the "Animals 3" worksheet. First hold the worksheet up for all to see. Take a crayon and elicit its color (e.g. "What color is this?"). Then color one of the animals whilst eliciting its name. Do the same for the other animals. Give out the worksheets and have the students color the animals, all the time praising, helping, encouraging and asking target questions (e.g. "What is it?"). Finally, go to each S in turn, look at his/her worksheet, ask some questions and then give back with lots of praise.
1. Assign Homework: " At the Zoo " 2. Wrap up the lesson with some ideas from our " Warm Up & Wrap Up " page.
Print Outs / Worksheets:
Lesson Plan
Reader worksheet
Song poster
Flashcards:
Songs & Readers:
Let's Go to the Zoo
Sammy Snake's Birthday Party
Additional materials:
Zoo animals vocab crossword
Zoo animals vocab word search
Additional worksheet - Read and color the zoo animals
- To view and print a flashcard or worksheet click on the thumbnail image.
- For detailed printing instructions, click here .
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ESL Conversation Questions
“zoo animals” esl discussion questions.
I. Types of Zoo Animals 1. What are some common animals you might see at a zoo? 2. Can you name three mammals found in zoos? 3. What types of birds have you seen at zoos? 4. Are there any reptiles that you find interesting at zoos? 5. Which zoo animals do you think are the most unusual?
II. Animal Behavior 6. What do lions do most of the day in a zoo? 7. How do monkeys interact with each other in their enclosures? 8. Can you describe how elephants use their trunks? 9. Why do you think some animals pace back and forth in their cages? 10. What kind of tricks can sea lions perform in zoo shows?
III. Feeding Zoo Animals 11. What do you think zookeepers feed the giraffes? 12. How often do you think zoo animals are fed each day? 13. Why is it important not to feed animals at the zoo? 14. What kind of food do you think a zoo provides for its carnivores? 15. Do you think zoo animals like their food? Why or why not?
IV. Zoo Habitats 16. How do zoos try to make animal habitats like their natural environment? 17. Why do you think it’s important for polar bears to have cold habitats in zoos? 18. What do you think are some challenges of creating a good habitat for zoo animals? 19. How do you think zoos take care of animals that need to swim? 20. Can you think of any ways zoos can improve their habitats?
V. Conservation and Education 21. How do zoos help protect endangered species? 22. What can you learn from visiting a zoo? 23. Why is it important for zoos to educate the public about animals? 24. Can you name a conservation project that a zoo might be involved in? 25. How do you think zoos can encourage people to care about wildlife?
VI. Ethical Considerations 26. Do you think it’s right to keep animals in zoos? Why or why not? 27. What are some arguments for and against zoos? 28. How do you feel about animals performing in shows at zoos? 29. What could be done to make sure zoo animals are happy? 30. Do you think animals in zoos live as long as they would in the wild?
VII. Personal Experiences 31. Have you ever visited a zoo? What was your experience like? 32. What’s your favorite animal to see at the zoo and why? 33. Can you share a memorable moment you had at a zoo? 34. Would you like to work at a zoo? Why or why not? 35. How do you feel when you see large animals like elephants in zoos?
VIII. Zoo Activities 36. What are some activities that children can do at a zoo? 37. Have you ever attended a zoo camp or a night-time zoo event? 38. How do you think a zoo prepares for a new animal arrival? 39. What would be an interesting zoo exhibit you would like to see? 40. Do you think zoos should have interactive exhibits?
IX. Animal Health and Care 41. How do zoos take care of sick animals? 42. What do you think happens during a zoo animal check-up? 43. How can zookeepers tell if an animal is not feeling well? 44. Why do you think it’s important for zoo animals to get exercise? 45. What role do veterinarians play in a zoo?
X. Zoo Design and Layout 46. How do you think a zoo decides where to put different animal exhibits? 47. What do you think makes a good zoo map? 48. Why do you think some animals are kept indoors while others are outdoors? 49. How do you think zoos ensure the safety of both animals and visitors? 50. What are some features of a zoo that make it enjoyable for visitors?
XI. Zoo Experiences Around the World 51. How do you think zoos are different in various parts of the world? 52. Can you name any famous zoos outside of your country? 53. What unique animals have you heard about in zoos in other countries? 54. Do you think climate affects the types of animals a zoo can have? 55. Would you like to visit a zoo in another country? Why?
XII. Future of Zoos 56. How do you think zoos will change in the future? 57. Do you think there will be more virtual zoo experiences? 58. How can technology improve the lives of zoo animals? 59. What do you think are the biggest challenges zoos will face in the future? 60. Can you imagine a world without zoos? What would that be like?
How about these other ESL discussion topics?
“chemistry” esl discussion questions, “genetically modified food (gm food)” esl discussion questions, “graphic design” esl discussion questions, “table tennis” esl discussion questions, “homework” esl discussion questions, “trains” esl discussion questions, “nuclear war” esl discussion questions, “philosophy” esl discussion questions.
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- Intermediate
Zoos and Children
- 1.0 Overview
- 2.0 Reading Text
- 3.0 Conversation Questions
Zoos are an excellent conversation topic for English learners with a beginner level because they offer a fun and engaging way to learn about animals and the natural world. This conversation focuses specifically around the benefits of children visiting zoos.
Why Zoos are a Great Place for Children to Learn About Animals
Zoos are a good place for children to learn about animals. Zoos are a fun place to visit and they can help children learn about animals in an exciting way. Here are some reasons why.
One reason is that zoos let children see animals up close. Although books and videos can teach children about animals, nothing is as good as seeing them in person. By watching the animals, children can learn about their behavior and habits.
Another reason is that zoos often have educational programs that teach children about animals. These programs can be interactive and hands-on, which means that children can touch and feel the animals. They can learn about different animals, what they eat, how they live, and how they are cared for.
Finally, zoos can inspire children to care about animals and want to protect them. By seeing the animals and learning about them, children can develop a connection to them. They may feel a sense of responsibility to take care of them and make sure they are safe.
Answer The Questions Below To Check Your Understanding
- What does the article say about educational programs at zoos?
- According to the article, what are some of the things children can learn about animals by observing them at the zoo?
Conversation Questions
- Have you ever visited a zoo? What did you like about it?
- What do you think are the benefits of seeing animals up close at a zoo?
- Do you think visiting a zoo can inspire children to care about animals?
- What wild animals do you like the most? Have you ever seen them in real life?
- Do you think zoos can be beneficial for very young children?
- Apart from zoos, how do you think children can learn about animals?
- Do you think zoos are important for animal protection and conservation? Why or why not?
- How can we ensure that animals in zoos are treated well and have a good quality of life?
- What do you think adults can learn from visiting zoos?
- Do you think it is right to keep large animals like elephants or gorillas in captivity?
Keep The Conversation Going!
Gregory is a qualified TEFL teacher who has been teaching English as a Foreign Language (ESL) for over a decade. He has taught in-person classes in Spain and to English learners around the world online.
Search form
Are zoos a good thing.
How do you feel about keeping animals in zoos? Read both sides of the argument to help you decide.
Instructions
Do the preparation exercise first. Then read the text and do the other exercises.
Preparation
Zoos are hugely popular attractions for adults and children alike. But are they actually a good thing?
Critics of zoos would argue that animals often suffer physically and mentally by being enclosed. Even the best artificial environments can't come close to matching the space, diversity, and freedom that animals have in their natural habitats. This deprivation causes many zoo animals to become stressed or mentally ill. Capturing animals in the wild also causes much suffering by splitting up families. Some zoos make animals behave unnaturally: for example, marine parks often force dolphins and whales to perform tricks. These mammals may die decades earlier than their wild relatives, and some even try to commit suicide.
On the other hand, by bringing people and animals together, zoos have the potential to educate the public about conservation issues and inspire people to protect animals and their habitats. Some zoos provide a safe environment for animals which have been mistreated in circuses, or pets which have been abandoned. Zoos also carry out important research into subjects like animal behaviour and how to treat illnesses.
One of the most important modern functions of zoos is supporting international breeding programmes, particularly for endangered species. In the wild, some of the rarest species have difficulty in finding mates and breeding, and they might also be threatened by poachers, loss of their habitat and predators. A good zoo will enable these species to live and breed in a secure environment. In addition, as numbers of some wild species drop, there is an increased danger of populations becoming too genetically similar. Breeding programmes provide a safeguard: zoo-bred animals can be released into the wild to increase genetic diversity.
However, opponents of zoos say that the vast majority of captive breeding programmes do not release animals back into the wild. Surplus animals are sold not only to other zoos but also to circuses or hunting ranches in the US or South Africa, where some people are willing to pay a lot of money for the chance to kill an animal in a fenced enclosure. Often, these animals are familiar with humans and have very little chance of escaping.
So, are zoos good for animals or not? Perhaps it all depends on how well individual zoos are managed, and the benefits of zoos can surely outweigh their harmful effects. However, it is understandable that many people believe imprisoning animals for any reason is simply wrong.
Check your understanding: true or false
Check your vocabulary: gap fill, worksheets and downloads.
What do you think about zoos? Are they a good thing, or is it cruel to keep animals in captivity?
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FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS
An exciting Going to the Zoo EFL ESL lesson plan
Little kids love learning about animals. It’s also really fun to teach about different animals and their sounds and actions. This is a Going to the Zoo EFL ESL lesson plan for preschool children. We’re going to learn all about different animals that you can see on a visit to the zoo. What can you see? What can the elephant do? The lesson will last about one hour and we’ll end with a fun and easy craft activity to make an animal. Get ready! We’re going to the zoo!
For this Going to the Zoo EFL ESL Lesson plan, you will need:
- Animal flashcards: make your own or use something like this
- Coloring pens, paper, scissors and glue
- Cardboard toilet rolls or card
Going to the Zoo songs and videos:
- Who’s in the Zoo? by The Kiboomers
- Let’s Go to the Zoo by Super Simple Songs
Introduction
Start the lesson with your usual Hello routine or use one of my favorite Hello songs . Then start drawing some animals on the board and ask the children what they are and if they know where you will be going today. If they don’t guess, tell them you are going to the zoo. Then sing the Who’s in the Zoo song together. What other animals can they think of that you might see at the zoo?
Meet the zoo animals
Using a mystery bag or box , pull out your flashcards and learn the names of the different animals. Don’t forget to use lots of actions and TPR to help the children remember the names of the animals. Then play a What’s Missing game: take one card away and put the others on the board or the table and let the class guess which animal is missing.
Let’s go to the zoo!
It’s time to go to the zoo and see what the animals are doing. Sing the song together and do the actions for each animal. Then ask the class, “What can you see?” and do the actions for one animal. Let them reply, “I can see a …..”. Once they’ve got the hang of this, choose one of them to do the actions and let the class ask another child what they can see. Let everyone have a turn.
What can you see?
Put the kids in pairs in a line or in a circle and give everyone an animal flashcard. Practice asking the question and replying so you are sure everyone is clear. Then let them work in their pairs asking each other the question, “What can you see?” “I can see an elephant / a bear/ a tiger etc.” Then change partners.
Zoo animal craft activity
We are going to make very simple cardboard roll zoo animals . Get everybody sitting down and give everyone a cardboard toilet roll and some paper and scissors. Tell the children that they can choose an animal. Show them how to draw, color and cut out the face, paws and tail of their animal. Then help them stick it on to the cardboard roll. While you’re doing this, ask them to tell you what animal it is and show you its actions.
If you’ve still got some time, play the question game again but using your animal models instead of the flashcards. Sing one of the zoo songs again to finish the lesson or choose one of my favorite Goodbye songs . Then send the kids home with their animal models
If you teach this lesson with your class, I’d love to hear how it went so please leave a comment. If you’ve enjoyed this lesson plan and would like to see more, you can see all my lesson plans here . To stay up to date with news and new posts from GoogooEnglish, you can follow our Facebook page or sign up for email updates below.
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Conversation Questions Animals & Pets
Selected questions, more questions.
ESL Speaking
Games + Activities to Try Out Today!
in Activities for Kids
ESL Animal Activities, Games, Worksheets and Lesson Plans
Are you looking for some fun and engaging ESL animal activities, along with worksheets and lesson plans? Then you’re most certainly in the right place for everything ESL animals lesson plans! Keep on reading for all the details you need to know about doing the animal unit in style.
ESL Animals activities and games, plus worksheets and lesson plans.
Let’s get into the best ideas, games, lesson plans and activities for teaching animals to English learners.
ESL Animals Activities and Games
Are you ready to get into the teaching animals for ESL activities? Then keep on reading for the best animal games and activities for English learners.
#1: 20 Questions
One of my favourite games to play when I teach the animal unit is 20 questions. Because the secret thing is limited to an animal, I usually make it into a “10 questions” game or it’s too easy. The way it works is that students have to answer yes/no questions to uncover which animal you’re secretly thinking of.
You can find out more about how to play this game with English learners here: 20 Questions for ESL .
#2: Animal Charades
If you want to have some serious fun teaching your students about animals, then you’ll want to consider playing animals charades. The way it works is that a student has to act out an animal and then their teammates need to guess what they’re doing.
Try it out with your students today! Charades for ESL/EFL .
#3: Animal Videos
It’s easier than ever these days for English teachers because there is a video for just about vocabulary set, topic or grammatical point on YouTube or English Central. But, you can get way more out of them if you don’t just put the video on and hit play.
There are a ton of pre and post watching activities you can do with your students. Check out some of them right here: Using Videos in the ESL Classroom .
#4: Flashcard Sentences
In my opinion, flashcards are one of the most under utilized ESL teaching tools. They are super versatile and you can do a ton of things with them. One way that they work really well is with animals. For a ton of ideas about how to use them in your classes, you’ll want to check this out:
ESL Flashcard Activities and Games.
#5: The Memory Circle Game
This circle game is one of my favourite memory games for TEFL and it’s the ultimate word category game . The way it works is that students have to stand up in a circle. The first students says an animal and then the next students repeats the first one and adds their own. And so on it goes until a student can’t remember and they have to sit down.
Find out more about this fun game for kids here: ESL Memory Circle Game .
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Bolen, Jackie (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 50 Pages - 01/21/2016 (Publication Date)
#6: The Hot Potato Game
If you want to create some pure fun and excitement in your classes, then you’ll want to consider trying out the hot potato game. The way it works is that students pass an object of some kind around the classroom. When the timer or music stops, the person holding the object has to do something.
In this case, you may want to hold up a flashcard with an animal on it. Beginners may have to say the name of the animal, while more advanced students could say three facts about it. For example (horse):
- It has three legs
- You can find it in the wild or on farms
- Horses are many different colors
You can learn more about how to use this activity in your classes right here: ESL Hot Potato Game .
#7: Can/Can’t Game
Animals and the grammatical constructions of can and can’t are often combined in many ESL textbooks. For example:
- A horse can run fast.
- A horse can’t fly.
If you want a fun game that uses can and can’t, you’ll want to check this out. And of course, you can easily gear it towards animals.
ESL Can/Can’t Activity .
Teaching animals
#8: Flip-Chart Vocabulary Review
If you want to review key vocabulary terms like new animals, then you’ll definitely want to consider flip-chart. The way it works is that you write a bunch of the target vocabulary in a notebook. Then, the first team sends up a captain to the front of the class. His or her teammates describe the word to that person who has to guess what it is. The team with the most number of points at the end of the time is the winner.
Sounds like it’ll work well for your students? You can check it out here: ESL Vocabulary Review Game .
#9: Animal Trivia
I love to bring trivia into my classroom because it’s a challenging, fun activity that students seem to love. Check out some of my favourite animal themed questions right here:
ESL Animal Trivia .
ESL animal activity for kids
#10: Would you Rather?
This is a versatile ESL speaking activity that lends itself very well to many different kinds of topic and units, including animals. In this case, students could choose between two animals and then explain why they chose the one that they did. For example,
Would you rather be a bird or a dolphin?
Do you want to find out more about this activity? You can check out the details for yourself about this activity that’s ideal for an ESL animals lesson plan right here: Would you Rather for ESL.
#11: I’m an Alien
If you want to elicit a bunch of information about various kinds of animals, then consider using this simple activity: I’m an Alien .
#12: Animal ESL Bingo
Bingo is a fun game that most students like to play. However, simply saying the words often doesn’t have much educational value. Instead, I make it into a serious listening challenge by describing the animals by giving hints instead of just saying the word. For example:
- It has 4 legs and lives on a farm.
- You maybe had it for breakfast—bacon!
Do you want to try out this version of Bingo? Learn more here: ESL Speaking Bingo .
- Smith, Jennifer Booker (Author)
- 134 Pages - 03/31/2016 (Publication Date)
#13: What Am I?
Try out this simple ESL icebreaker with animals! The way it works is that each student has a post-it note with an animal on it that they can’t see but the other students can. Then, they have to circulate around the class asking yes/no questions to find out their animal.
Sounds like your students will like it? Learn more here: What Am I ESL Game .
#14: Task-Based Language Activities
For the animal unit, you could certainly consider doing some task-based activities. They’re ideal because they allow the students to learn what they want to learn in terms of grammar and vocabulary.
In this case, you might consider having students do a research project about an animal of their choosing and then making a brochure or doing a presentation to the class.
Do you want to know more about this style of teaching? You can learn more here: Task Based Learning and Teaching .
- 81 Pages - 06/22/2021 (Publication Date)
#15: A-Z Alphabet Game
If you know that students already know a fair amount of animal vocabulary, then you may want to consider using this game as a warmer. The way it works is that students have to try to think of one animal per letter of the alphabet in a certain amount of time. Most students won’t complete the activity but the group with the most animals is the winner.
Try it out here: A-Z ESL Game .
#16: Picture Prompt
This is an easy warmer activity to introduce your students to animals. Chances are, they already know a good deal of this vocabulary and this activity can help them activate their prior knowledge.
Depending on the level of your students, you could ask them various questions:
- What animals do you see?
- What’s going on in the picture?
- What’s going to happen next?
More details here: ESL Picture Warm-Up .
#17: Animal Songs
You can find an animal song or chant for all ages and levels on YouTube! Just have a look and you’ll be able to easily find what you’re looking for.
#18: Animal Chain Spelling
A quick, easy way to review spelling of key animal vocabulary words is to play this game. The way it works is that students have to spelling out words, letter by letter until only one person remains. Find out how to play this activity that’s perfect for an ESL animals lesson plan right here:
Chain Spelling ESL Game .
#19: Flip Chart Animal Vocab Review Game
#20: ESL Animal Board Game
In real life, I love to play board games. So it makes sense that I’d use them a lot in my classes too, right? The good news is that it’s super easy to make your own for just about any topic, vocabulary set or grammar point. For animals, you could either ask some questions like the following:
- What’s your favourite animal? Why?
- Do you have any pets?
- If you could choose any pet, what would it be?
Or, give hints:
- It has 4 legs and lives on a farm
- Name 3 animals that people eat
- What’s the biggest animal?
Find out all the details you need to know here:
ESL Board Games .
- 82 Pages - 06/10/2020 (Publication Date)
#21: Running Dictation Game for Teaching Animals
Just ask my students and they’ll tell you that running dictation is one of my favourite activities. It’s student-centred, covers a range of skills and is ideal for the animal unit with more advanced level students. Beginners may find it too challenging.
The way it works is that you have to find, or write a conversation about animals. Then, students have to work in pairs to dictate it. After that, they have to put the conversation in the correct order. Try it out with your students:
Running Dictation.
#22: Kindergarten Games and Activities
Little kids love learning about animals. It’s one of their favourite topics and I like to include it into my young learner English classes as much as I can. For some of the best ideas for teaching kids, you’ll want to check this out:
ESL Kindergarten Activities and Games .
#23: Flyswatter Vocabulary Game
#24: Comparative and Superlative Games and Activities
Words like the tallest, biggest, and most dangerous are a natural fit for describing animals. That’s why you’ll often find animals along with comparative/superlative adjectives together in ESL textbooks.
If this is the case, consider using some of these engaging and interactive activities:
ESL Comparative/Superlative Activities .
#25: Guessing Game
This is a simple warm-up activity that’s ideal for getting students talking about animals. Prepare a handout of PowerPoint slide with various animals on it.
In pairs, students have to take turns describing one of them to their partner who has to guess what it is. This also works well for things like jobs, food or drink , or famous people. Find out more about it:
ESL Guessing Game .
#26: Dictation
#27: Dictogloss
If you teach more advanced-level students, then you may want to consider using this challenging listening activity. Find or write a passage that contains lots of the target vocabulary. In this case, animals or words related to their abilities.
Then, put students into pairs and read out the passage at a faster-than-normal pace. Have students take notes and then work together to attempt to recreate what they heard. Repeat the process again and in the end, each pair can compare what they have with the original version.
Sounds fun? It is! Learn more about it:
ESL Dictogloss Activity .
#28: ESL Vocabulary Auction
#29: Sea Creatures
If your students want to learn the most common sea creatures, have a look at this article. You can find a list of ocean animals, along with pictures and a fun guessing game:
Sea Animal Name List .
#30: Examples of Herbivores
Have a look at this list, along with pictures of plant-eating animals. It’s a nice way for students to learn some new vocabulary in a fun way. Then, try out the online guessing game.
Examples of Herbivores
#31: Zoo Animals
Teach your students about the various kinds of animals they can find in a zoo:
Zoo Animals List
Zoo Animal Guessing Game Video on YouTube
Animals ESL Worksheets
If you want some animal ESL worksheets that you can just print and go, here are a few of our favourite resources:
ISL Collective
English Worksheets
ESL Kids World
ESL Animals Lesson Plan
Does the idea of a lesson plan about animals that you can just print and go seem like exactly what you might need? All your dreams can come true! Here are some of our top recommendations:
Lingua House
TEFL Handbook
Did you Like these ESL Animal Activities?
Yes? Thought so! Then you’re going to love this book over on Amazon: 101 ESL Activities for Kids . The key to better English classes for kids is a variety of interesting and engaging ESL games and activities and this book will help you with just that. The dozens of top-notch activities will help you make it through the entire semester in style.
You can get the book in both digital and print formats. The digital copy can be read on any device by downloading the free Kindle reading app. Take it with you to your favourite coffee shop for a serious dose of lesson planning on the go. Or, keep the physical book on the bookshelf in your office to use as a nice reference guide.
Yes, it really is that easy to have better English classes. Check out the book for yourself over on Amazon but only if you want a serious dose of ESL teaching awesome in your life:
Have your say about these Animals ESL Activities and Games
What did you think about these animal ESL games? Did you try out some from the list, or do you have another recommendation that you’d like to share with us? Leave a comment below and let us know. We’d love to hear from you.
Also be sure to give this article a share on Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter. It’ll help other busy English teachers, like yourself find this useful resource.
Last update on 2024-02-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
About Jackie
Jackie Bolen has been teaching English for more than 15 years to students in South Korea and Canada. She's taught all ages, levels and kinds of TEFL classes. She holds an MA degree, along with the Celta and Delta English teaching certifications.
Jackie is the author of more than 100 books for English teachers and English learners, including 101 ESL Activities for Teenagers and Adults and 1001 English Expressions and Phrases . She loves to share her ESL games, activities, teaching tips, and more with other teachers throughout the world.
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I’m just working on the animal unit with my kindy kids right now and found your ideas for activities so useful. Thank you!
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ESL Questions About At The City Zoo
- Posted by by ESL Questions About
- 2 weeks ago
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Hey there, ESL teachers and fellow adventurers! Are you ready to embark on a wild and educational journey? We are thrilled to introduce you to our latest blog post on “At the City Zoo”. As dedicated educators, we understand the importance of engaging our students in interactive and immersive learning experiences. What better way to sharpen their English skills than by taking them on a virtual visit to the exciting world of the zoo? Get ready to explore the exotic creatures, hear incredible stories, and discover fascinating facts about the animal kingdom. So, grab your safari hat and let’s dive right into this thrilling escapade together!
ESL Speaking Questions About At The City Zoo
Beginner esl questions about at the city zoo.
- Have you ever been to a city zoo?
- What animals did you see at the zoo?
- Which animal at the zoo is your favorite?
- Why do you like that animal?
- What sounds do animals make at the zoo?
- What do you think it’s like to work at a zoo?
- Do you know any zookeepers?
- Do you like watching animal shows at the zoo?
- What is the biggest animal you’ve seen at the zoo?
- Can you name some animals that can fly?
- Do you know any animals that live in the water?
- Which animal at the zoo would you like to have as a pet?
- What do you think the animals eat at the zoo?
- Do you know any facts about zoo animals?
- Have you ever fed an animal at the zoo?
- Can you imitate the sound of any animals at the zoo?
- Would you like to work as a zookeeper in the future?
- What do you think the animals do at night when the zoo is closed?
- Why do you think zoos are important?
- What would you say to encourage your friends to visit the city zoo with you?
Intermediate ESL Questions about At the City Zoo
- What kind of animals do you usually see at a city zoo?
- Which animal at the zoo is your favorite? Why?
- Do you think it’s important for children to visit the zoo? Why or why not?
- What are some ways zoos help with conservation of endangered animals?
- Would you rather see a show with trained animals or observe animals in their natural habitat? Why?
- Do you think zoos should be responsible for breeding endangered animals? Why or why not?
- How do you feel about zoos keeping animals in captivity for public display?
- Have you ever had a close encounter with an animal at a zoo? Tell us about it.
- What do you think are the benefits of having a city zoo in your community?
- Do you think zoos can effectively educate visitors about animals and conservation? Why or why not?
- Do you know any cities that are famous for their zoos? Which one would you like to visit and why?
- If you were in charge of a city zoo, what kind of changes or additions would you make?
- What would be a good way for a city zoo to attract more visitors?
- What kind of activities or events do you think a city zoo could organize to engage the public?
- Do you think it’s important for animals in zoos to have a comfortable and natural habitat?
- Would you like to work at a city zoo in the future? Why or why not?
- What measures do you think zoos should take to ensure the well-being of their animals?
- Do you think zoos should have stricter regulations on animal welfare? Why or why not?
- Have you ever volunteered or participated in any activities at a city zoo? If not, would you consider doing so in the future?
Advanced ESL Questions about At the City Zoo:
- What is your favorite animal to see at the city zoo?
- Have you ever visited a city zoo before? If so, which one?
- Why do you think city zoos are important?
- What are some benefits of having a zoo in the city?
- Do you think zoos play a role in conservation efforts? Why or why not?
- Would you prefer to see animals in their natural habitats or at the zoo? Why?
- What are some challenges that zoos face in terms of animal welfare?
- Do you think it is ethical to keep animals in captivity for the purpose of entertainment? Why or why not?
- How do you feel about zoos that are focused on breeding endangered species?
- Do you think animals in zoos should be trained or perform tricks for visitors? Why or why not?
- What measures can zoos take to ensure the well-being of the animals in their care?
- Would you consider working at a city zoo? Why or why not?
- What are some ways that city zoos can educate visitors about animals and conservation?
- Do you believe there should be stricter regulations on city zoos? Why or why not?
- Have you ever participated in any zoo’s educational programs or workshops?
- What can zoos do to promote awareness about endangered animals?
- Do you think zoos should prioritize entertainment or education? Why?
- How can zoos incorporate more interactive experiences for visitors?
- What role can zoos play in promoting environmental awareness?
- Would you like to see more wild animals in city parks instead of confined in zoos? Why or why not?
ESL Reading Activities About At The City Zoo
Beginner esl activities about at the city zoo.
At the city zoo, you can see many different animals. There are tall giraffes, smart monkeys, and big elephants. The zookeeper takes care of all the animals, making sure they have enough food and water. You can watch the zookeeper feed the animals during the day.
There is a lion at the zoo named Leo. Leo is very strong and has a loud roar. He likes to lay in the sun and take naps. He is a favorite among visitors at the zoo. People often take pictures in front of Leo’s enclosure.
There is also a small pond at the zoo where ducks swim. Ducks like to float on the water and catch fish to eat. They make a funny quacking sound. It’s fun to watch them swim around.
Next to the pond, there is a cage with colorful parrots. Parrots can talk and imitate sounds. Some parrots can even say hello! They have beautiful feathers and are very friendly.
Don’t forget to visit the reptile house. Inside, you can see snakes, turtles, and lizards. One snake is very long and green. It slithers around its enclosure. The turtles are slow and like to hide in their shells. The lizards are tiny and like to climb on rocks.
If you feel hungry, there is a café near the entrance where you can get food and drinks. You can sit at a table and enjoy your meal while watching the animals from a distance. It’s a great place to relax.
Intermediate ESL Activities About At the City Zoo
Visiting the city zoo is a wonderful experience for both children and adults. At the city zoo, you can see a variety of interesting and exotic animals from all around the world. The zoo is a great place to learn about different species and their habitats. As you walk around, you can observe animals such as lions, tigers, and elephants, which are known as the “big five” in the animal kingdom. These magnificent creatures are often the main attractions at the zoo. You can also learn about more unusual creatures, such as the komodo dragon, which is the largest lizard in the world. Observing these animals up close allows visitors to appreciate their beauty and uniqueness.
The zoo provides interactive activities to engage visitors. For example, there are feeding sessions where you can watch the zookeepers giving the animals their daily meals. This allows you to see how the animals eat and learn about their dietary needs. Another exciting activity is the opportunity to take a ride on a train that goes around the zoo. From the train, you can see the animals from a different perspective and get a closer look at their enclosures. The zoo also offers informative talks and presentations by experts, where you can learn fascinating facts about the animals.
One of the best features of the city zoo is the children’s area. Here, kids can interact with domestic animals, such as rabbits and guinea pigs, which they can feed and touch. This helps them develop a sense of responsibility and empathy towards animals. There is also a playground with animal-themed structures for the children to enjoy.
When visiting the zoo, it is important to be respectful to the animals and follow the rules. Make sure not to tap on the glass enclosures or throw anything into the animal habitats. Remember that these are their homes, and we are just guests. Finally, don’t forget to grab a souvenir from the zoo gift shop to remember your fun day!
Vocabulary Words
Advanced esl activities about at the city zoo.
Visiting the city zoo can be an exciting and educational experience. The zoo is home to a wide variety of animals from all over the world, giving visitors the opportunity to see creatures they may never encounter in their daily lives. The zoo is a popular attraction for both children and adults because it provides a chance to observe and learn about different species up close.
As you walk through the zoo, you will come across various exhibits that showcase different habitats. One of the most remarkable exhibits is the African Savannah, where you can observe majestic lions, graceful giraffes, and mighty elephants. It is truly awe-inspiring to see these wild animals in their natural-like environment.
Another fascinating area is the Reptile House, which houses a collection of snakes, lizards, and turtles. This is a chance to learn about these unique creatures, their behavior, and their adaptations. As you read the signs near each exhibit, you will discover interesting facts about each animal’s diet, habitat, and physical characteristics.
Some of the zoo’s highlights include the daily animal shows and demonstrations. Watching the dolphins perform their acrobatic stunts is always a crowd favorite. The zookeepers also organize feeding sessions for certain animals, providing visitors with the opportunity to witness these creatures in action, right before their eyes.
If you are interested in learning even more about animals, the zoo offers interactive educational workshops. These workshops provide hands-on experiences, allowing visitors to touch and handle different species under the guidance of trained staff. It’s an excellent opportunity to ask questions, expand your knowledge, and deepen your understanding of the animal kingdom.
ESL Writing Activities About At The City Zoo
Beginner esl writing questions about at the city zoo.
1. Describe your favorite animal that you saw at the city zoo. What does it look like? What is its name? 2. What are three words you would use to describe the city zoo? Why? 3. Write a short paragraph about what you did during your visit to the city zoo. 4. Pick one animal you saw at the city zoo. Write three sentences about what it eats, where it lives, and one interesting fact about it. 5. Imagine you are a zookeeper at the city zoo. Write a letter to a friend about your day taking care of the animals.
Intermediate ESL Writing Questions about At the City Zoo
1. Write a compare and contrast essay about the city zoo and a zoo in your country. What are the similarities and differences between the two? 2. Choose three animals at the city zoo and research their habitats. Write a paragraph about each animal’s natural habitat and explain why it is important for their survival. 3. Write a persuasive essay trying to convince your friends to visit the city zoo. Include at least three reasons why they should go and provide examples to support your points. 4. Imagine you are a tour guide at the city zoo. Write a script for a guided tour, including interesting facts and descriptions of the animals. 5. Write a short story about a zookeeper who discovers a new species of animal at the city zoo. Describe the animal and its behavior, and explain how the zookeeper reacts to this discovery.
Advanced ESL Writing Questions about At the City Zoo
1. Write a research paper about the ethical issues surrounding zoos. Discuss both the positive and negative aspects of keeping animals in captivity. 2. The city zoo has recently opened a new exhibit featuring endangered animals. Write an article for a local newspaper promoting the exhibit and raising awareness about the importance of conservation. 3. Reflect on your visit to the city zoo and write a personal essay examining the role of zoos in educating the public about wildlife conservation. 4. Write a proposal for a new educational program at the city zoo. What subjects would be covered? How would the program benefit students and the community? 5. In your opinion, do you believe that zoos should prioritize animal welfare over entertainment value? Write an argumentative essay supporting your stance and providing evidence to support your claims.
ESL Roleplay Activities about At the City Zoo
1. Visiting the Zoo – In this roleplay activity, students can pretend to be visitors at the city zoo. They can take turns playing the roles of tourists, ticket sellers, and zoo staff. Students can practice asking for tickets, giving directions, and describing the different animals they see in the zoo.
2. Animal Encounters – This roleplay activity focuses on interactions between zookeepers and visitors. Students can roleplay as zookeepers taking care of different animals in the zoo, while other students can act as curious visitors asking questions about the animals. This activity will allow students to practice vocabulary related to animals, their habitats, and their behaviors.
3. Zoo Research – In this roleplay activity, students can play the roles of researchers or journalists visiting the zoo to gather information for an article or a report. Students can divide into groups, each focusing on a specific animal or exhibit at the zoo. They can then interview zoo staff, take notes, and present their findings to the rest of the class.
4. Animal Shows – Students can roleplay as zoo performers showcasing various animal shows, such as a dolphin show, a bird show, or a lion-taming show. They can practice narrating the shows, describing the animals’ abilities and tricks, and interacting with the audience. This activity allows students to work on their speaking skills while incorporating creativity and imagination.
5. Animal Adoption Center – In this roleplay activity, students can take on the roles of animal adoption center staff and potential adopters. Students will practice asking and answering questions about the animals, discussing their suitability as pets, and completing adoption forms. This activity encourages students to use their language skills in a more practical context, while also raising awareness about animal welfare.
Note: Remember to provide clear instructions and guidance to students before engaging in any roleplay activities. Encourage students to use English as much as possible during the roleplays, and provide feedback and support to enhance their language learning experience.
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Reviews — zoos in europe, history description, history documentary.
During the second half of the nineteenth century the first menageries in Moscow were established as entertainment facilities. The first was founded in 1855 by two Frenchmen (names unknown), while the Kreuzberg family owned a private menagerie that opened its door to the public in 1862 . Together these animal collections formed the heart of the Moscow Zoological Garden founded by the Society for Acclimatization of Plants and Animals, which was established by professors of the Moscow State University. The initial idea for such a zoological garden came in 1857 , but it took the Society, including one of its founding fathers professor Anatoly P. Bogdanov, until 1863 to be able to buy property for the future zoo. The Zoo was opened to visitors on 13 February 1864 at the location where it still exists until this very day. On opening day 287 animals were on display, of which 134 were domestic animals, while the others were exotic specimens such as tigers, lions, jaguar, leopard and rhino.
In those days it was an unique experiment to create “a living museum outdoors,” as professor Bogdanov said, in such severe climatic conditions of central Russia. The primary purpose of the Zoological Garden according to the members of the Society was:
to collect alive specimens of higher vertebrates ( firstly — the animals of Russian fauna) for scientific observations;
to establish a collection of typical animals that could serve educational purposes, i.e. distribution of zoological knowledge among the wide public communities;
to carry out scientific experiments and observations of important animals, especially domestic animals of Russian breeds.
The Zoo was financed by the entrance fees and private donations, including contributions by members of the imperial family. In the first years the annual number of visitors grew up to ten thousands. Nevertheless, the incomes did not cover the expenses and the Moscow City Council refused to give financial support. So, the Zoo went into private hands of the Ryabinins’ family in 1874 . They transformed the Zoo into an amusement park and in three years time ruined the place. In 1878 the Zoo was run by the Society for Acclimatization of Plants and Animals again, including fund raising activities. This time the Society was able to manage the Zoo successfully, and even to buy a number of animals. But in the turmoil of the Revolution of 1905 the Zoo was severely damaged: the buildings were ruined, the library was set on fire, many animals perished. So, for the second time the Society was forced to turn over the Zoo to private owners.
Then in 1914 World War I broke out. For the Zoo this meant that in the autumn of 1914 the only building that remain to this day was transformed from the director’s premises to a hospital for wounded WWI soldiers. The WWI impact compounded Russia’s suffering from a number of economic and social problems, which resulted first in the 1917 February revolution followed by the October revolution. In the aftermath of the Great October Socialist Revolution of 1917 and the fall of the Russian Empire, the Society ceased to exist, and in 1919 the Zoological Garden was declared national property and transferred under the responsibility of the ministry of Culture of the communist Moscow parliament, the Mossovet. In 1922 it was transferred to the authority of Moscow City Council and since then it has been supported by the City Authorities. Construction work began on the Zoo grounds. The Zoological Garden premises almost doubled in size with the establishment of the ‘New’ territory on the opposite side of Bolshaya Gruzinskaya street. New exhibits, which followed the principle of Carl Hagenbeck’s bar-less enclosure design were established. One of the most interesting exhibits of the Zoo called ‘Animal Island’ still exists. It was a high stony rock surrounded by a deep water ditch that separated the visitors from bears, tigers, lions and other large predators on the ‘Island’. The total size at the time was nearly 18 hectares.
In 1926 the Zoological Garden was renamed ‘Zoological Park’. At that time the range of activities extended, the animal collection increased considerably with expeditions collecting wildlife in Central Asia, the Far East and the Caucasus. New departments were established, focussed on for instance scientific research, education, veterinary science and nutrition. In those same years Moscow Zoo was the first zoo in the world where educational activities were the main priority.
In 1924 the Zoo had established the Young Biologists Club that gathered like-minded young people that joined in real scientific research. Many of them became a Zoo employee. The Club was founded by Petr Manteifel, who also was the pioneer father of the science called ‘zoo biology’. Manteifel and his young biologists discovered a way of artificial breeding sables (Martes zibellina), which were on the verge of extinction due to man’s insatiable pursuit for its expensive fur. In the 1930 s during Stalin’s great purge many members of the Young Biologists Club were arrested accused of spreading anti-soviet propaganda and liberal-minded ideas and having contact with German colleagues at Berlin zoo, some were even executed as foreign spies. The Club was considered a non-governmental organisation beyond the direct control of the authorities, which in fact was partly true because the Club was a real democracy, with membership available to all.
Although many animals were evacuated and many of the zoo staff were called to arms at the beginning of World War II the Zoo was kept open. Of the 750 employees at autumn 1941 only 220 remained on the staff, most of them women. Getting enough food for the animals was a constant challenge, for instance carcasses of killed horse at the battlefield around Moscow were brought to the zoo. More than six million people visited the Zoo from 1941 to 1945 to enjoy the sights of animals that had remained.
At wartime the scientific work proceeded, perhaps even more intense than before or after the war. The scientific staff worked especially on development of antibiotics. But the most important mission of the Zoo during the war was to give people hope. It produced the illusion of a peaceful life until people survived through the desperation of the war with the Red Army soldiers as the most frequent visitors of the Zoo. Which were given the pleasure of watching newborn offspring even during the war.
During the soviet union period ( 1922 − 1991 ) not many highly ranked people cared about the zoo — no soviet leader had any interest in it. The city encroached on the zoo premises, while the zoo needed additional space for the ever expanding zoo population of animals. Because the breeding results were still excellent.
The Zoo lived up to the goal it had set for itself and made educational activities the main priority. Zoo staff distributed knowledge in the field of natural history and tried to raise the public awareness and concern about the necessity for wildlife conservation. The zoo assisted schoolchildren and students with studying biology, actively participated in scientific research, and actively contributed to scientific publications. So, the Zoo became one of the larger scientific institutions in Moscow. And of course it still was the favourite recreational place for Moscow citizens and those who visited the city.
As off 1974 when Igos Sosnovsky retired as director and his successor Vladimir Spitsyn took over Moscow Zoo became part of the international zoo community again. Sosnovsky as a WWII veteran hadn’t been able to brush aside the fear of repression and avoided all international contacts for some reason. Spitsyn restored all international activities from before the war and the Zoo became member of many European and International Breeding Programmes in which it exchanged its rare and endangered animals, shared experience and information.
Although already in the 1970 s improvement of all zoo facilities was needed and ideas of a new zoo in another region of Moscow were launched, nothing happened due to local economical and social problems. By the end of the 1980 s the Zoo’s condition became alarming. Facilities were deteriorating, enclosures were dilapidated and technical equipment needed to be replaced as well. And while a few improvements had been achieved — such as a partial renovation of the main entrance, the monkey house and lion house — urgent measures were still needed.
Then, in 1992 the new Moscow government made a decision to start the most ambitious reconstruction project in Moscow Zoo’s history with the first stage of the project to be completed by 1997 , when the 850 th anniversary of the City would be celebrated. Anatoly A. Andreev who had been involved in the Zoo’s design and architecture since the 1970 s headed the team of architects. The project’s renovation objectives were focussed at (a) preservation or partial renovation of the historically valuable buildings and existing pools, (b) reduction of the noise from the surrounding streets, © connection of the Old and the New territory via a footbridge, and (d) expansion of the Old territory by incorporating adjacent areas and buildings.
Besides the preservation and renovation of almost all important zoo constructions, including the ones that actually were dilapidated, many new enclosures and facilities were built. Already in 1993 the footbridge that connected the Old and New territory was completed. It allowed visitors to avoid crossing the busy B. Gruzinskaya street with its heavy traffic. In 1993 other constructions were completed as well, such as an enclosure for large birds of prey and a complex of enclosures for feline species, including leopards, Pallas’ cats and lynx. Next, the Hagenbeck-style ‘Animal Island’, one of the most remarkable exhibits in the New territory, was renovated. The historic appearance with enclosures that resembled the natural habitats of Amur tiger, striped hyena, African wild dog and Asian black bear was preserved. Later they introduced Asian lions in one of the enclosures around the large rock in the centre of the ‘island’. During the renovation they created the Exotarium, which held several aquariums, inside the rock on the second floor.
The following years many more enclosures were renovated, besides the new research and veterinarian facilities that were put into operation in 1994 . In 1996 , the main entrance itself (featuring a small artificial waterfall) was reconstructed. The same year the old, dilapidated elephant complex was demolished and a new elephant house was erected at the same spot, while the inhabitants (four African elephants and four Asian elephants) were temporarily moved to a a former tram depot that was completely renovated and specially equipped. A new children’s zoo was opened in the New territory, including a children’s theatre that organises shows with educational elements. And besides several aviaries, a pavilion for water birds was built on the shore of the large pond in the New territory.
Although in those days 4 additional hectares of space was added to the former existing 18 hectares, the Zoo still lacked space to create favourable conditions for their species to breed. And its location in the centre of Moscow didn’t contribute to the favourable breeding conditions they wanted of course. Therefore, the 200 hectares area near the city of Volokolamsk (about 100 km from Moscow) that was given to the Zoo in 1996 for the establishment of a breeding station was very much welcomed (see also Breeding Centre ).
The first major stage of the general reconstruction of the Moscow zoo represents a unique event. Not only over 50 facilities have been renovated ( 90 % of all existing facilities) and newly built, but it was achieved in such a short period of time. But maintenance and small and larger refurbishment is ongoing business in a zoo. So, i n 2002 , the Moscow City Government and the City Council allocated the necessary funds to start construction of a new pavilion for the Asian elephants. In 2003 the three elephants could move house already, and in spring 2009 , the first newborn elephant calf was welcomed.
The Moscow Zoological Park has come a long way from the small zoological garden it was to the large institution of scientific research, education, conservation and recreation it is today. And due to the dynamics of the standards used in the zoo community regarding animal health and welfare, Moscow Zoo is constantly improving its facilities, also during 2014 celebrating its 150 th anniversary.
(Source: Moscow Zoo website; Zoo with a Human Face, to the 150 th anniversary of the Moscow Zoo — a documentary by Darya Violina and Sergei Pavlovsky, 2014 ; Zoo and Aquarium History by Vernon N. Kisling, Jr., 2001 ; Wikipedia)
An account of 150 years of history of the Moscow Zoo
(A documentary by Darya Violina and Sergei Pavlovsky)
The history of Moscow Zoo shown through the perspective of the lives of the people who have been important to the Zoo’s development and continuous progress over those many years since 1864 . Thousands of photographs, hundreds of chronicles, accounts and recollections that have preserved the story that began so long ago, against all odds, and lasts uninterrupted to this day. A documentary about those who have devoted their lives to serving a noble and rewarding cause, those who have started from scratch, those who maintained that work and about those who revive the Zoo as off today.
(Source: sdpavlovskiy YouTube channel)
20 . 06 . 2014
Finally, Moscow Zoo is paid a visit. I have been looking forward to this for quite some time. It has been on my to-do list since I learnt about the large collection of feline species on display at the Zoo. So, I am here on this sunny day in June to satisfy my curiosity, in the year they celebrate the Zoo’s 150 th anniversary.
I am entering as one of the 1 , 5 million paying attendance yearly. Which is not even half of the total number of visitors a year. This is about 4 million, because there are specific categories (e.g. disabled, pensioners, children, students, etc.) for whom the admission is free.
OLD TERRITORY
I turn left after the main entrance to visit the large predator section of the Old territory. Not that only here you will find predators, but the greatest part of their predator collection is grouped in this section. I will come back to the grouping of Moscow Zoo’s animal collection later. After having walked along a fence that blocks most of the views on the work in progress at the lake I arrive at what they call here the ‘tropical cats’ section: Bengal tiger (unfortunately the genetically aberrant version — a white tiger), jaguar and cheetah. Both the tiger and the jaguar have their indoor enclosures in the same house built at the perimeter of the premises. The cheetahs have their shelter for the night and bad weather in their outdoor paddock, so that cannot be visited. The tiger and the jaguar however have interesting housing that serves the needs for both the cats and the visitors. The latter are pleased with Asian and South American (Inca) ornaments to make sure they understand the geographical origin of the species. While the walls have murals representing the species’ original habitat … Machu Pichu for the jaguar. The animals themselves have various enrichment features at their disposal, including high level observation posts, in rather small exhibits. The outdoor facilities for these two species are accessible from the indoors. It has natural vegetation, but not a lot. Likewise there are not a lot of options to shelter from extreme weather or loud crowds. Although the cats have access to several resting posts at different levels, these enclosures can do with some improvements — at least more vegetation — to make them better fit for purpose, in my opinion. The enormous exposure of the cats is also due to the fact that they use windows to separate animal from man along almost the total length of the enclosures.
When I walk the few steps to the entrance of the Bear House, which is like the jaguar and tiger indoor enclosure built at the edge of the Zoo grounds, I pass in between the Pallas’ cat exhibit and a second jaguar exhibit. The Pallas’ cat has a flat grassy area with three large trees, some shrubs and a potential pond (when filled with water) available in its outdoor enclosure. Windows all around and a wire mesh roof prevent the cat from fleeing this scenery that doesn’t resemble the cat’s original Himalyan habitat. Across the footpath there’s a jaguar enclosure that’s more interesting than the one directly neighbouring the tiger. This one has a small stream and loads of vegetation and a multilevel resting platform. Still the animal is quite exposed.
The Bear House provides a nice and secluded area where three adjacent bear enclosures houses sloth bear and spectacled bear. As a visitor you walk via a roofed corridor more or less in the dark along the enclosures having good views on the exhibit via man-sized windows. The enclosures have a dry shallow moat at the visitor’s side, but I don’t think this withhold the bears from coming close to the windows. The enclosures are small but almost completely filled with enrichment features including various platforms, a tree trunk structure, rubber hammocks and natural vegetation. Considering the design I think these enclosures offer peace and quiet for the bears, unless people start banging the windows of course.
In slightly larger enclosures they keep Amur leopard, snow leopard and cougar ( Puma concolor ). At all of these felid species enclosures the distance between the public barrier and the fence does allow contact when people lean far forward.
Further along the footpath around the corner the arctic fox and the dhole are housed in enclosures that have a similar interior design as those for the felids. Despite the fact that these species live under different natural circumstances in the wild (forest and tundra habitat respectively).
When I walk back to have a look at the large birds of prey aviary I cannot prevent myself to have a brief look at the giraffe enclosure as well. It’s obviously a relic of the past that is not fit for purpose anymore. Still they have one reticulated giraffe on display at a saddening small area. It loves to be fed by the public that doesn’t care about the warning not to feed the animals. On the other side of the building a similar pitiful situation for the single white-tailed gnu can be seen.
One of the most extraordinary group of species brought together on display can be found right after the row of predator enclosures. The maned wolf from South America has the red-necked wallaby and emu from Australia as neighbour. But also in the same area the African wild dog is on display as well as white-tailed gnu (Africa) and kiang (Asia) in the row of stables along the rim of the premises.
The raccoon exhibit is worth mentioning considering the aforementioned accident risks. It has a very typical enclosure design with electrical wire on top of windows surrounding the entire exhibit. The electrical wire is within reach of the public. So, there are numerous warning signs! But why they installed electrical wire on top of windows that are unclimbable for raccoons? To keep out the public perhaps?
In the bird house, in the far end corner from the main entrance, birds from all geographical regions are grouped together, including Humboldt penguin and African penguin. The house consists of two part with one part half empty, and has also very common species on display, such as wild turkey, common pheasant and European hedgehog. Outside this building several aviaries comprise a large array of parrot species (South America and Australia).
Proceeding with my tour around the Old territory I have a look at the Asian elephant house and its surrounding grounds. The fancy steel with blue details of the elephant house doesn’t appeal to me, but that is just a matter of taste. It is definitely the most modern exhibit in the Zoo I’ve seen yet, in style and in size, with a nice pool at the visitor’s side.
I skip the reptile house to save some time, and money too, because an additional fee complies. So I walk straight to another modern enclosure — the bar-less and moated wolf exhibit. Although it has a Hagenbeck-style design, the space available for the wolves is ridiculously small. The wolves will never be able to cross the water-filled moat and climb the wall and thus break out, still there is impressive electrical wiring in place on top of the wall. Again, probably to keep out the public.
Making my way to the footbridge that connects the Old and New territory I pass along a very old-fashioned row of enclosures built in a semicircle in front of the 16 metres high sculpture by Zurab Tsereteli called ‘Tree of Fairy Tales’, 1996 . The enclosures house several species of mustelidae (sable, European polecat, stone marten), as well as African wild cats. Then followed by several aviaries again. At this point I am really lost regarding the way they group the Zoo’s animal collection.
NEW TERRITORY
Proceeding clockwise I find the doors of the Tropical House closed for renovation. So, no butterflies for me this time. But in one of the two spacious aviaries around this house I discover several ducks, such as the mandarin duck and the black-bellied whistling duck, together with the common kestrel ( Falco tinnunculus ), though neither rare nor endangered.
Then a rather special exhibit appears, the Animal Island, which was developed in the 1920 s as one of the first Hagenbeck-style enclosures in the New territory. Although it took some renovation activities it still exists to this very day. In the centre of this moated area they have erected a fake ruined fortress, which serves as the background for the species in the surrounding exhibits. These bar-less exhibits have a more modern appearance but it isn’t necessarily an improvement for the animals. For instance the Asian black bear has a bare environment with minor enrichment available and no vegetation, but the brown bear is even worse off in a similar enclosure but next to nothing of enrichment features. The tundra wolf ( Canis lupus alba ) and the striped hyena have a little better place at their disposal, but the Asian lions have by far the best enclosure. They have several resting platforms, trees and a stream that ends in the moat. Again to save time I skip an exhibit. This time the Exotarium with its aquariums that has been created inside the ruined fortress and by the way requires an additional fee to get in.
One of the rare areas in Moscow Zoo where you find mixed-species exhibits is called ‘Fauna of the Savannah’. It has a South American section with capybara vicuna and guanaco, and — very importantly — a large pool at the disposal of the largest rodent on earth. Though absolutely not endangered, these water-loving capybaras should have access to water at all times, in my opinion. The real savannah area with African species has several enclosures. A mixed species exhibit with sable antelope and dikdik. And Grevy’s zebra together with ostrich and giraffe. Also this time there’s only one giraffe in the paddock. The location of the meerkat enclosure is well chosen, because when they sit on top of one of their hills they can watch the other animals. Although it is the largest and probably the most modern facility at the Moscow Zoo I still think it is disappointingly mediocre compared to other zoos I have seen in Europe and North America.
Before I go to the primate section I buy myself an ice cream and walk along the horse stables on the eastern edge of the New territory premises. Looking for an answer to the question “why are there horse stables at this place?” The question still waits for an answer.
At Moscow Zoo they keep both Sumatran as Bornean orangutans, which is quite unusual. The outdoors for the five individuals, including 2 young, of the Sumatran species looks impressive due to the enormously high rock face at the rear. The wall looks extra impressive because it is rather close to the viewing windows. Unfortunately, the exhibit lacks trees and vegetation other than grass while the enrichment is scant and I don’t see puzzle feeders. The Bornean orangutans have a similar outdoor enclosure, but it is suggested that olive baboons ( Papio anubis ) are on display here as well. It could be that they alternate in the same outdoor enclosure, but this is not very clear.
The western lowland gorillas also have a similar outdoor enclosure design due to which the animals are enormously exposed to the inquisitive public. Considering the number of youngsters Moscow Zoo appears to be having good results breeding orangutans and gorillas.
Indoors, all the great ape exhibits have much enrichment and jungle-like murals, but the agile gibbon has even more enrichment inside. I haven’t seen a specific outdoor enclosure for the agile gibbon but it could be possible that it alternates with the Sumatran orangutans. Only this enclosure lacks high trees or other options for the gibbon to brachiate, which is its natural behaviour in the canopy of the gibbon’s native habitat, the rainforests of southeast Asia.
The terrarium building, located behind the Primate House, is beautifully decorated with little mosaic tiles. They have the usual row of exhibits, but in this case especially the larger reptiles and tortoises (python, crocodiles, alligator, tortoise) are kept. And outside they have two giant tortoise species, the Aldabra and the Galapagos tortoise.
On my return to the exit I pass the exhibits of a few of the many predator species they have on display at Moscow Zoo. The polar bear is provided with a big heap of artificial ice, but that’s about it when it comes to enrichment, though there are some plastic drums to play with. The enclosure as such is the prototype of polar bear enclosures worldwide, rear wall of cement and large bricks, concrete floor, large and deep water-filled moat. Unfortunately, again here the annoying reflecting windows. The yellow-throated marten I do not see, and the same counts for the Eurasian otter in its large elongated outdoor exhibit with a shallow pool along the whole length. It must be great to see the submerged otters swim in this pool.
Conclusion There are several ways to group a collection of animals which can support a zoo’s educational efforts. Of course, some people just come to the zoo to be entertained, but when an individual is ready to learn some things the worst thing you can do is confuse him or her. And to be fairly honest, confusing it is. Sometimes they group the collection according their taxonomic tree, which is the case with the felids, the bird species and the primates. Then again they have decided to present the collection by geographical origin, like in the ‘Fauna of the Savannah’, or according original habitat like the mountain-dwelling tur and markhor. And at some point they just make a mess of the grouping, for instance in the area with the maned wolf, the red-necked wallaby and others. In the end it seems the Zoo just want to have on display as many species as possible, because all species that live in herds they keep them in small numbers. I do understand that it is not easy, requires tough decisions and certainly is not cheap to rearrange your entire collection, especially when it is that huge as it is here at Moscow Zoo. Anyway, further renovation is foreseen and probably some rethinking as well.
I hope that they get rid of all these windows they have at so many exhibits. For some situations it is inevitable I understand, but I sincerely hope they will return to the original Hagenbeck idea of bar-less enclosures, taking into account modern husbandry standards of course. As the position of the sun makes it sometimes hard to get even the slightest glimpse of the animals due to the reflections in the windows. And last but not least they have the tendency to have windows all around or at more than 50 percent of the perimeter of an enclosure. Most of the time leading to more exposure of the animals to the public and possible unrest.
Sumatran orangutan youngsters at Moscow Zoo
Just another day at the zoo for these orangutans ( Pongo abelii ) — nothing much exciting going on in this safe and secure environment. But wouldn’t it be nice to see them swinging and romping in the forests of Sumatra.….
Raccoons at Moscow Zoo
Raccoons are known for their habit to clean their food in the water before eating it. It seems they also want to have a clean ball before playing with it.
Breeding Centre
Information and education, zoo details, breeding farm.
The Moscow Zoo has always been trying to create the most favourable conditions for their animals to fulfil their basic needs. Not only for animal health and welfare purposes but also to breed the animals successfully. These specific breeding conditions could not be achieved due to its location in the City centre and the lack of space. In 1996 the Zoo came into possession of an area of 200 hectares near the city of Volokolamsk (about 100 km from Moscow). In this picturesque hilly area of the former quarries of the Sychovo mining factory, with streams, springs and artificial ponds better opportunities were available for breeding various — predominantly rare — species of animals.
The main goals of the Breeding Centre, besides maintaining rare and endangered species of animals, are establishing breeding pairs and groups and developing new husbandry methods. Since excessive disturbance is likely to have adverse effect on the breeding efforts, the actual Breeding Centre is not open to the public.
The construction of the Breeding Centre started in March 1996 . The first inhabitants of the Centre were birds of prey and waterfowl and they have been successfully breeding birds ever since. The collection of waterfowl has grown notably since the beginning. Apart from the numerous mallards and ruddy shelducks, the inhabitants of the ponds include pintails, pochards, tufted ducks and black geese of the genus Branta. Bewick’s swans are thriving, raising their chicks every year. Japanese, white-naped and Siberian cranes are also breeding successfully and many other species, including parrots. The breeding centre for birds of prey is continuously expanding, with Himalayan griffon vultures, golden eagles, imperial eagles, Steller’s sea eagles, and black vultures among its most prominent inhabitants. Regular breeding has also been achieved in saker falcons ( Falco cherrug ).
They keep carnivorous mammals as well at the Breeding Centre. These include endangered species such as Amur leopard, Pallas’ cat, cheetah, Amur tiger, dhole, wolverine, and yellow-throated marten. Of these species the Amur leopard is listed Critically Endangered according the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ , with about 45 individuals left in the wild. The Zoo’s track record says they have produced offspring from Pallas’ cat, dhole, yellow-throated marten, and Amur tiger.
For the ungulates that are kept at the Centre the environment is almost ideal. There are bactrian camels as well as kiangs, Saiga antelopes, blue sheep and vicunas. Hoofed animals originating from mountainous areas have large paddocks at their disposal that are situated on the slopes of the surrounding hills, more or less similar to their natural habitat.
Besides the more rare and endangered species the Centre also has an interesting collection of domestic hens, a horse stable and a dog-breeding centre, mainly for the breeding of Central Asian sheep dogs. Furthermore, there is a small quail farm and a poultry farm with layer hens.
Moreover a subsidiary farm in Lotoshino houses some cattle, smaller livestock, and the main herd of bactrian camels and yaks. The area of the subsidiary farm is about 51 hectares and it comprises hayfields, pastures, a sheepfold and an apiary. Most importantly it provides the Moscow Zoo with ecological feed for its animals.
The Breeding Centre’s collection comprises 10 species of carnivores, 6 species of ungulates, 74 species of birds and a great number of domestic animals, but the collection is expanding constantly. Although it is still closed to visitors, the Zoo’s goal is to open part of the farm (as they call the Breeding Centre themselves) to outside visitors soon. They plan to create an additional safari park at the location of the Breeding Centre.
(Source: Moscow Zoo website; Zoo with a Human Face, to the 150 th anniversary of the Moscow Zoo — a documentary by Darya Violina and Sergei Pavlovsky, 2014 )
Information panels and Education at the Zoo
First thing to be noticed of course is that the information on the panels around Moscow Zoo is given in the Russian language. And no other language. This is not unexpected as most of the information provided in Moscow is only in Russian. Fortunately, the name of the species on display is given in English as well, together with its scientific name. As far as I can tell and understand no information is provided on the species conservation status (or IUCN Red List status). On the new revamped website this information is available but only in Russian and no icons or logos are used, so you have to rely on machine translation services. The panels show geographic maps of the species distribution and sometimes the IUCN status and if the species is part of EEP /ESB, as well. But this is not done consistently, and I am not sure how reliable the information is. Nevertheless I have been able to find on the internet a list of species that represent the Moscow Zoo contribution to the European Endangered species Programmes (EEPs).
There is also a zoo school that is primarily focussed on children, and I assume that the Young Biologists Club still exist. Foremost because it has been very successfully delivering a range of important staff members over the years.
- Directions
directions to Moscow Zoo
Address : B. Gruzinskaya 1 123242 Moscow Russia
public transport
The metro system can be quite intimidating for foreigners because of the language issue, but I can assure you it is the best way of navigating the city. The metro stations are the most beautiful I’ve ever seen and buying tickets can be done using sign language (see the tripadvisor website how it is done). When you are not able to decipher the Cyrillic alphabet on the fly it is best to prepare your metro trip beforehand and make sure that you know how many stops you have to travel from the departure station to your destination, including transfer stations. Another way of travel support is the Art-Lebedev metro map , which has the names of the stations both in Russian and English mentioned. The most fancy way however is by using the Russian metro app on your smartphone. The Yandex.Metro app — provides a bilingual metro map which can even build connection routes for you and estimate travel times.
Moscow Zoo’s main entrance is conveniently located right across from the Krasnopresnenskaya metro station on the Brown Circular line (no. 5 ). Also the Barrikadnaya metro station is rather close to the main entrance, Purple line (no. 7 ).
by bicycle
As mentioned already Moscow is a very large city. So, it really depends on how close you already are to the Zoo if cycling could be an option. The obvious challenge is the traffic which has grown dramatically in recent years — the centre of Moscow is a non-stop traffic jam. Furthermore the poor driving habits of Moscow motorists are notorious, from road rage to rear-ending. In addition, knee-deep snow and the grimy slush that inevitably follows during the long and fearsome winters doesn’t make cycling in Moscow a very attractive mode of transport. Nevertheless the City Council tries to make the city more bike-friendly with a bike rental scheme like in many major cities around the world. I decided to use the metro.
There is no dedicated parking available at the Zoo, but if you really want to drive yourself you can get directions below by providing your point of departure.
From : -- Choose source -- Moscow Zoo or
Download the zoo map here .
Goal: 7000 tigers in the wild
“ Tiger map” ( CC BY 2 . 5 ) by Sanderson et al., 2006 .
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Pandas to return to San Diego Zoo, China to send animals in move of panda diplomacy
The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is taking the first step to bring pandas back after zoos across America had to return them to China, according to a press release.
SDZWA signed a cooperative agreement with China Wildlife Conservation Association and filed a permit application with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to bring the giant bamboo-loving creatures to the zoo.
The SDZWA told USA TODAY that it is still too soon to know how many pandas the zoo is going to welcome or when the pandas will arrive.
"We are humbled by the potential opportunity of continuing our collaborative conservation efforts to secure the future for giant pandas," said Dr. Megan Owen , SDZWA's Vice President of Conservation Science, in a statement. "As such, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is taking important steps to ensure we are prepared for a potential return. This includes sharing our detailed conservation plans with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to ensure alignment for the greater benefit of giant pandas.”
An add zoo story: Coins in the belly: Alligator undergoes surgery at Nebraska zoo
History of pandas at San Diego Zoo
For nearly 30 years, the zoo has had a partnership with research collaborators in China that focused on protecting and recovering giant pandas, the press release states.
"San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is uniquely positioned to collaborate toward a shared goal of creating a sustainable future for giant pandas," said Owen
The zoo helped its Chinese research partners learn more about panda's reproductive behavior and physiology, nutritional requirements and habitat needs.
It helped develop a giant panda milk formula and other neonatal techniques that increased survival rates of cubs raised in captivity from 5% to 95%, states the release.
Their research also helped China bring the giant animal back from the brink of extinction and contributed the first successful artificial insemination of a giant panda outside of China and it assisted efforts led by Chinese scientists track wild giant pandas with GPS technology at the Foping National Nature Reserve .
"Pandas in our care and in the care of Chinese colleagues at conservation facilities play an important role as assurance against extinction and loss of genetic diversity in their native habitats, as well as a source population for reintroductions,” said Owen. “Our partnership over the decades has served as a powerful example of how—when we work together—we can achieve what was once thought to be impossible ."
Why did pandas get removed from zoos in the US?
Zoos across the country returned their pandas because of the rocky relationship between the U.S. and China.
However, the news of pandas return to the West Coast comes after Chinese President Xi Jinping, who called pandas "envoys of friendship between the Chinese and American peoples," met with President Joe Biden in November.
"I was told that many American people, especially children, were really reluctant to say goodbye to the pandas and went to the zoo to see them off," Xi said.
Three beloved pandas, Tian Tian, Mei Xiang, and Xiao QI Ji, were sent back to China from the Smithsonian National Zoo in November after attempts to renew its three-year agreement with China Wildlife Conservation Association failed.
In 1972, China gifted the first panda to US after President Nixon formalized normal relations with China. The practice was dubbed "panda diplomacy."
China loaned pandas to other foreign zoos in hopes that it will build ties with those countries.
Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. She has covered various topics, from local businesses and government in her hometown, Miami, to tech and pop culture.
You can follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter , Instagram and TikTok : @juliamariegz.
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Flaco the owl dies after apparent collision with building on Upper West Side
UPPER WEST SIDE, Manhattan -- Flaco, the owl who escaped his enclosure from the Central Park Zoo , has died after an apparent collision with a building on the Upper West Side.
The Central Park Zoo released a statement Friday saying,
We are saddened to report that Flaco, the Eurasian eagle owl discovered missing from the Central Park Zoo after his exhibit was vandalized just over a year ago, is dead after an apparent collision with a building on West 89th Street in Manhattan.
Flaco was set free last February after his exhibit was vandalized and the stainless steel mesh was cut.
Initially there were efforts to recapture him, but he surprised many with his ability to hunt for food, and it was decided to let him remain free.
The zoo says it is still hoping for an arrest on the vandalism to his cage.
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Taylor swift, the wordsworth of our time.
Harvard English Professor Stephanie Burt teaches “Taylor Swift and Her World.”
Photos by Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer
Eileen O’Grady
Harvard Staff Writer
New English course studies pop star’s lyrics alongside classic literature
It turns out Taylor Swift could keep company with the Romantic-era poets
On a recent Monday afternoon, Professor Stephanie Burt asked some 200 students — packed into Lowell Lecture Hall for the popular new English course “Taylor Swift and Her World” — to consider their role as listeners to “Fifteen,” the second track off the superstar’s second album, “Fearless.”
In the song, Swift presents herself as a teenage girl who’s both relatable and aspirational with lyrics that reflect upon high school, friendship, and dating. Burt compared the song’s reflective qualities to William Wordsworth’s 1798 poem “Tintern Abbey.”
“She’s establishing herself as a kind of ally for us, what the poet and literary theorist Allen Grossman calls a ‘hermeneutic friend,’” said Burt , the Donald P. and Katherine B. Loker Professor in the Department of English. Or in other words, “the literary or musical text that you’re getting into is going to help you out, it simultaneously knows more than you do, and knows what’s going on with you.”
The course resonates with the many students who have been fans since childhood. Seated in tiered rows on the main floor and in the balcony, they nodded along intently with the lecture, occasionally laughing when Burt threw out an insider Swiftie reference.
It’s the largest class Burt has ever taught — and the largest taught in the arts and humanities this spring. The professor, who has long wanted to create a course centering the works of a songwriter, knew “all too well” that it was time to examine Swift’s writing through an academic lens.
“She’s one of the great songwriters of our time,” Burt said. “If she weren’t, she wouldn’t be this popular. And I love the idea that we’re going to spend this much time with her music.”
Burt’s class is the largest taught in the arts and humanities this spring.
Teaching fellow Matthew Jordan helps unpack songs on the piano during class.
Xinran (Olivia) Ma ’26 and other students engage with the lecture.
The syllabus is organized around the “eras” of Swift’s career, starting with her 2006 debut album and progressing to her most recent. Students examine themes of fan and celebrity culture, whiteness, adolescence, and adulthood alongside songs by Dolly Parton, Carole King, Beyoncé, and Selena, and writing by Willa Cather, Alexander Pope, Sylvia Plath, and James Weldon Johnson.
“The best way to get someone into something is to connect it to something they already love,” Burt said, in an interview before class. “I do think there’s going to be a lot more Harvard students reading Alexander Pope because he’s in the Taylor Swift course than if he only showed up in courses that were entirely dead people.”
Burt explained that she is teaching Swift as a songwriter rather than a poet because writing for music is its own literary form, one that requires different skills than writing for the page. Burt and teaching fellow Matthew Jordan regularly unpack songs on the piano during class. During a recent class, the whole room broke out into spontaneous song as Jordan performed “Love Story.”
“Usually, poetry means works of art that use nothing but words that are created to be read on a page that do not have to be read aloud by the author,” Burt said. “Songwriters are writing for a melody; they are writing for singing interpreters. You are not getting all that you can out of a song if you are reading it on a page.”
‘Tortured poets’ department?
What common themes do you see in these excerpts from William Wordsworth’s “Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey” and Taylor Swift’s “Fifteen”? Listen to the professor’s take below.
Transcript:
STEPHANIE BURT: She [Taylor Swift] is far from the first or the only writer who has written looking back at her younger self and addressing someone else — a friend, a specified reader, an audience — as a younger version of themselves. “I’m going to tell you what I wish someone had told me when I was that age, because I look at you — listener, reader, sister named Dorothy — and I see myself when I was that age, and by the way, I’m really close to that age. I’ve only grown up a little. I’m going to show you how that works.” That is a central trope of the literary movement which generates “tortured poets,” which we call Romanticism.”
Cormac Savage ’25, a concentrator in Romance languages and literatures and government, has been a Swift fan since age 6, when he received a platinum edition copy of “Fearless” for Christmas. So when he saw the course listing, he knew immediately that it was the one.
“I think I’ll come out of this English class with a greater knowledge of music as a byproduct of studying literature, which is a really unique point of this class,” said Savage, who is looking forward to reading Wordsworth and comparing his poetry to Swift’s album “Folklore.”
Jada Pisani Lee ’26, who is studying computer science, has also been a fan since elementary school. The sophomore said she enrolled in the class to learn more about Swift’s impact on culture, from music to style to copyright law.
While some critics may not consider Swift classically worthy of English class analysis, Burt politely disagrees.
“Half the English-language authors we now think of as ‘classic’ and ‘high culture’ and ‘serious’ were disparaged because they were popular and doing the ‘pop thing’ in their time,” Burt said. “Often the ones who were disparaged because they were doing the ‘pop thing’ were authors who were writing for women when serious prestige classics were the domain of expensively educated white men.”
“Half the English-language authors we now think of as ‘classic’ and ‘high culture’ and ‘serious’ were disparaged because they were popular and doing the ‘pop thing’ in their time.” Stephanie Burt
The professor hopes students will gain not only a deeper appreciation for Swift but a new set of tools for literary and cultural analysis and a greater engagement with authors beyond the pop star.
“If I were not able to connect Taylor’s catalog to various other, older works of literature, I wouldn’t be teaching this class,” Burt said. “But I also wouldn’t be teaching this class if I didn’t really love her songs and find her worthy of sustained, critical attention. She really is that good.”
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The Associated Press
February 23, 2024, 3:51 PM
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BROOKFIELD, Ill. (AP) — A grey seal found stranded and blind more than a decade ago on an island in Maine has given birth at a Chicago-area zoo and is now “a very attentive mother” to her newborn, zoo officials said Friday.
The 11-year-old seal named “Georgie” gave birth on Feb. 17 to a nearly 35-pound (15.9-kilogram) male pup at the Brookfield Zoo. He’s gained 15 pounds (6.8 kilograms) in his first week on his mother’s extremely rich milk, and has been practicing his swimming skills in a pool, zoo officials said.
After Georgie was found stranded on an island in Georgetown, Maine, near the Atlantic Ocean in 2013, it was determined she was blind in her left eye and functionally blind in her right eye.
Due to her impaired vision, authorities with the National Marine Fisheries Service decided she could not be released back into the wild. She arrived in 2020 at the Brookfield Zoo, west of downtown Chicago.
But Georgie’s vision loss hasn’t affected her ability to care for her newborn — she’s nurturing the pup and has proven to be “a very attentive mother,” said Mark Gonka, the zoo’s associate director of marine mammal care and conservation.
“Grey seals have a keen sense of smell as well as a repertoire of vocalizations. Georgie is able to locate her pup by his distinct smell and call,” Gonka said in a statement.
Like Georgie, the pup’s father, a 23-year-old grey seal named Kiinaq, was also stranded in the wild and deemed unreleasable when he was only a few months old.
The Brookfield Zoo said the newborn pup’s birth from two parents of wild descent is helping to increase the genetic diversity of the grey seal population in accredited North American zoos and aquariums.
Grey seals face threats that include entanglement in fishing gear, illegal hunting, chemical contaminants and climate change, the zoo said.
Copyright © 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
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ESL Conversation Questions Download pdf Zoo conversation questions This is an interesting discussion activity all about zoos. The difficult words to revise before discussing the questions are -cruel, feed, fed, cage, aquarium, nocturnal, enclosure, benefit, ridden, bathe, and perform. The zoo conversation questions are - Do you like visiting zoos?
(1) Do you like zoos? (2) What was the last news story you heard about a zoo? (3) What would happen if all the zoo animals escaped into the town? (4) Do you feel sorry for the animals in zoos? (5) Have you ever felt like you were in a zoo? (6) Which is better - a zoo or an aquarium?
1. Teach the zoo animals vocab If you have plastic toys for the animals you can use them or you can use zoo animal flashcards. Before the class put the toys or flashcards in a bag. Bring out the bag and peer in - make surprised noises to get the full attention of your students.
1. Why do we have zoos? 2. How did zoos start? 3. What do you think the purpose of zoos is? 4. Can you name some of the oldest zoos in the world? II. Zoo Experiences and Preferences 5. How often do you visit a zoo? 6. Do you like to visit zoos? 7. What is your favorite zoo? 8. What is a typical day at the zoo like? 9.
1. What are some common animals you might see at a zoo? 2. Can you name three mammals found in zoos? 3. What types of birds have you seen at zoos? 4. Are there any reptiles that you find interesting at zoos? 5. Which zoo animals do you think are the most unusual? II. Animal Behavior 6. What do lions do most of the day in a zoo? 7.
181 Zoo English ESL worksheets pdf & doc SORT BY Most popular TIME PERIOD All-time indira Zoo Animals Simple worksheet about zoo animals for kindergarten or elementary school. Teacher can also use this worksheet to teach about the use of 'can'. 13024 uses mayaism Zoo Animals
Zoos are an excellent conversation topic for English learners with a beginner level because they offer a fun and engaging way to learn about animals and the natural world. This conversation focuses specifically around the benefits of children visiting zoos. Instructions:
Zoos are hugely popular attractions for adults and children alike. But are they actually a good thing? Critics of zoos would argue that animals often suffer physically and mentally by being enclosed. Even the best artificial environments can't come close to matching the space, diversity, and freedom that animals have in their natural habitats.
408 Zoo English ESL video lessons SORT BY Most popular TIME PERIOD All-time teacher_dani Zoo Animals Do you know the zoo animals? So, let's review (lion, zebra, monkeys, hippo, giraffe, etc.) 669 uses Katon Zoo Phonics Listen the sound of letter and answer the in different questions such as matching and reorder. 82 uses joytanliyen Singapore Zoo
This is a Going to the Zoo EFL ESL lesson plan for preschool children. We're going to learn all about different animals that you can see on a visit to the zoo. What can you see? What can the elephant do? The lesson will last about one hour and we'll end with a fun and easy craft activity to make an animal. Get ready! We're going to the zoo!
A Part of Conversation Questions for the ESL Classroom . Related: Dogs and Cats Selected Questions Do you have a pet? How old is it? Where did you get it from? Who takes care of it? What does it look like (color, breed, etc.)? What do you feed it? Do you play with it? What is it's name? How did you choose this name?
STEVE: "That must've been boring." GREG: "It was boring. The kids wanted to go home early." STEVE: "The animals should be more visible since the weather is going to be sunny this weekend." GREG: "Yeah. I think we will go to the zoo. Hopefully, this time it'll be more fun." STEVE: "Actually, I have four tickets to the zoo. You can have them.
A selection of English ESL zoos video quizzes. zoos. Worksheets. Powerpoints. Video Lessons. Search. Filters. 102 Zoos English ESL video lessons. SORT BY. Most popular. TIME PERIOD. All-time. teacher_dani. Zoo Animals. ... joytanliyen. Singapore Zoo. Identify the animals. 76 uses. PetraKrcilova. The London Zoo - Wor. Answer the questions. 1133 ...
15 Essential Words About Zoos Word Bank - Writing Activity ZOO Write an opinion essay to answer this question: "It is cruel to keep wild animals in zoos. Do you agree or disagree?" Use at least 6 of the 15 words on the left; 2 pages of lined writing paper.
English Conversation Questions on What is your favorite animal to see at the zoo, and why? Do you think zoos are ethical and necessary, or do they contribute to the mistreatment of animals? What role do you think zoos play in conservation efforts? Have you ever had a close encounter with an animal at the
in Activities for Kids ESL Animal Activities, Games, Worksheets and Lesson Plans Are you looking for some fun and engaging ESL animal activities, along with worksheets and lesson plans? Then you're most certainly in the right place for everything ESL animals lesson plans!
Pick one animal you saw at the city zoo. Write three sentences about what it eats, where it lives, and one interesting fact about it. 5. Imagine you are a zookeeper at the city zoo. Write a letter to a friend about your day taking care of the animals.
English Conversation Topics on Zoos. Zoos and me. Animal conservation. Zookeeping practices. Zoo vs safari. Educational value of zoos.
zoo, place where wild animals and, in some instances, domesticated animals are exhibited in captivity. In such an establishment, animals can generally be given more intensive care than is possible in nature reserves or sanctuaries.Most long-established zoos exhibit general collections of animals, but some formed more recently specialize in particular groups—e.g., primates, big cats, tropical ...
The zoo assisted schoolchildren and students with studying biology, actively participated in scientific research, and actively contributed to scientific publications. So, the Zoo became one of the larger scientific institutions in Moscow. And of course it still was the favourite recreational place for ...
Moscow Zoo is one of the oldest and largest zoos in Europe, home to over 6000 animals of 1000 species. Visit the website to learn more about the animals, the park, the tours and the educational programs. Moscow Zoo is open daily from 7:30 am to 10 pm, and you can buy tickets online or enter through mos.ru.
A Nebraska zoo is telling visitors not to throw coins into animal exhibits after veterinarians pulled $7 in coins out of an alligator's belly. Workers at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha performed ...
Moscow Zoo, Moscow: See 1,464 reviews, articles, and 2,632 photos of Moscow Zoo, ranked No.354 on Tripadvisor among 4,898 attractions in Moscow. ... English. Detailed Reviews. Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order. ... Frequently Asked Questions about Moscow Zoo. When is Moscow Zoo open? Moscow Zoo is open ...
The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is taking the first step to bring pandas back after zoos across America had to return them to China, according to a press release.. SDZWA signed a cooperative ...
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It turns out Taylor Swift could keep company with the Romantic-era poets. On a recent Monday afternoon, Professor Stephanie Burt asked some 200 students — packed into Lowell Lecture Hall for the popular new English course "Taylor Swift and Her World" — to consider their role as listeners to "Fifteen," the second track off the superstar's second album, "Fearless."
BROOKFIELD, Ill. (AP) — A grey seal found stranded and blind more than a decade ago on an island in Maine has given birth at a Chicago-area zoo and is now "a very attentive mother" to her ...