What Do You See At The Zoo?

K
Koko

Owlo, Owlo! I have the most amazing news! Mum said we are going to the zoo on Saturday!

O
Owlo

How wonderful, Koko! The zoo is one of my favourite places. Tell me, have you ever been there before?

K
Koko

No, never ever! But I do not really know what I will see there. Which animals actually live in a zoo?

O
Owlo

That is a very good question. Let us look through some books in the library together. We can discover everything there is to know about the zoo.

K
Koko

Wow, there are so many thick books in here! Look, this one has a huge lion on the front cover.

O
Owlo

Yes, the lion is one of the most well-known animals in the zoo. It has a big mane of fur around its head. Lions come from Africa.

K
Koko

Africa, that is really far away! So why do those animals live in the zoo instead?

O
Owlo

That is a very thoughtful question. Many zoo animals do indeed come from faraway places. At the zoo, they are well cared for and kept safe.

K
Koko

Oh, so the keepers give them food and look after them. That is actually really kind.

O
Owlo

Exactly right. Each type of animal gets the food that is best for it. A lion eats meat, but an elephant eats plants and fruit.

K
Koko

An elephant! Those are really huge, are they not? With a long trunk?

O
Owlo

That is absolutely right. The trunk is actually the elephant's nose. It uses its trunk to drink water and to pick up food.

K
Koko

I really want to see that! Are there also animals that live in the water?

O
Owlo

There certainly are. Many zoos have a large pool with sea lions or penguins. Penguins are small birds that cannot fly, but they can swim incredibly fast.

K
Koko

Small birds that swim instead of fly? That actually sounds quite funny to me.

O
Owlo

It really is a remarkable sight to see. Nature is full of surprises, Koko.

K
Koko

And those big grey animals with a horn on their nose, what are they called again?

O
Owlo

Those are rhinoceroses. The horn on their nose is very special. Sadly, there are not many rhinoceroses left in the world.

K
Koko

Oh, that is really sad. Why are there not many left?

O
Owlo

Because the wild places where they live are getting smaller and smaller. Zoos help by taking good care of them and keeping them protected.

K
Koko

So the zoo also helps to save animals. I did not know that at all!

O
Owlo

Absolutely. This is called animal conservation. Many zoos work closely with scientists to help endangered animals survive.

K
Koko

Are there also monkeys at the zoo? I really hope there are monkeys!

O
Owlo

Monkeys can almost always be found at the zoo. They are very clever and they play all day long. Some monkeys can even look a little bit like people.

K
Koko

Yes, they grab onto things and stare right at you. I find that a little strange, but also really fun.

O
Owlo

That is true. Monkeys are distant relatives of humans, from very far back in history. They have hands, just like you do.

K
Koko

Wow, that is so cool. I have learned so much today. On Saturday I am going to look really carefully at everything.

O
Owlo

That is exactly the right attitude to have. Now, can you tell me everything you have learned about the zoo today?

K
Koko

Okay, I will try my best! At the zoo you can see animals from all over the world, like lions, elephants, penguins, rhinoceroses, and monkeys. They come from faraway places, and the keepers take really good care of them. An elephant uses its trunk as both a nose and a hand. Penguins are birds that swim instead of fly. The zoo also helps to protect rare and endangered animals. Oh, and I really cannot wait to see the monkeys, because they have hands just like me!

O
Owlo

That was a brilliant summary, Koko. You are completely ready for Saturday. Perhaps afterwards we can also learn about what animals eat in the wild. That is a fascinating topic too!

K
Koko

Yes! And then I also want to know how baby animals are born at the zoo. See you on Saturday, Owlo!

O
Owlo

Until next time, Koko. Enjoy the zoo, and make sure you look around at everything!