Happy National Zoo and Aquarium Month

June is National Zoo and Aquarium Month! In 1982, President Ronald Reagan dedicated this month to zoos and aquariums to showcase their importance for the conservation of wildlife.

At Pedacitos Blog, we not only want to connect the world, but encourage people to learn more about the diversity of living things inhabiting it. We believe that everything plays an important role in our ecosystem and understanding the role of animals gives us a better connection to the world around us.

Despite having a questionable history, zoos and aquariums are not only wonderful educational resources, they are institutions essential to the conservation of the environment. With the help of government relief programs, local wildlife institutions had the funding to provide equitable, humane care for animals in captivity. Now, zoos and aquariums are homes for hundreds of species facing extinction, euthanization, or are considered non-releasable.

Zoos and aquariums, in the modern-day, have become essential for supporting wildlife conservation around the globe. Many wildlife institutions are partnered with conservation organizations and nonprofits all over the world. Not only that, they are key resources for educating people about the various species that also live on this planet.

In honor of this month, we want to stress the importance of supporting these institutions, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many wildlife institutions are donation funded and rely on visitors and fundraising events to provide proper care for their animals. Due to closures around the world, many wildlife institutions and the animals they care for are struggling. Without funding from visitors, donations, government financial aid, or fundraising events, these institutions become incapable of supporting global conservation efforts and their own animals.

There are many ways you can support zoos and aquariums including:

• Give a donation

• Visit the zoo

• Purchase a membership

• Volunteer

• Share the organization on social media

If you want to ensure you’re supporting an equitable zoo, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) has a list of accredited institutions that are dedicated to providing proper care and follow humane practices.

Want to learn more about zoos and aquariums? Check out our recent article about Storyteller Alex’s trip to Cape May County Zoo.