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December 27 • Cultural Insight

Visit the Zoo Day

Visit the Zoo Day, celebrated on the 27th of December, encourages public engagement with wildlife parks. The day serves as a focal point for discussing the evolution of zoological gardens from historical menageries to modern centres for conservation and education.

Visit the Zoo Day Lesson Visual

Speaking Discussion

  • Is a happy monkey in a cage better than a dying monkey in a burnt forest?
  • Should we replace all live animals with high-Tech holograms?
  • Why do we feel sad when we see a lion in a zoo, but happy when we see a dog in a house?
  • If you were a zookeeper, what is the first thing you would tell a noisy tourist?
  • Is education a good enough reason to take a life's freedom?

Activity 1: The Zoo Reformer

The Task: You have '$100 Million'. You must choose: 1) Make the cages bigger for the public to see, or 2) Close the zoo and move everyone to a secret jungle sanctuary. You have 3 minutes to defend your choice to the city mayor.

Activity 2: Rapid Fire Debate

Justify in 30 seconds: 1. 'Zoos are the only way to make city children care about nature.' 2. 'If you can't see an animal in the wild, you shouldn't see it at all.' 3. 'We should prioritise 'Individual Rights' over 'Species Survival' at all times.'