Roaring Fun: See the Zoo Through a 4-Year-Old’s Eyes

Few things excite my 4-year-old son more than a visit to Africa.

Thanks to the vision of wildlife conservationists, Bennett could walk along a path in the African Continent section of the North Carolina Zoo on a recent visit and imagine that he was actually crossing the savannah, home to his favorite wild animal — the lion. In recognition of Visit the Zoo Day on Dec. 27, this is a good time to reflect on what people of all ages can gain by visiting zoos, aquariums, and wildlife sanctuaries.

The North Carolina Zoo, just south of Asheboro, is the world’s largest natural habitat zoo and one of only two zoos nationwide supported by their state governments. (The other one is in Minnesota.) We are in luck because this 500-acre wonderland is only about 140 miles, or 2 1/2 hours, from us by car.

As readers of this newsletter know, Bennett is excited about anything related to lions. For Halloween, he wore a lion costume, while Marah and I played supporting roles as the Tin Man and the Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz.

Bennett loves the gorillas, zebras, and giraffes in the zoo’s African region, which also has numerous different habitats for chimpanzees, gorillas, and elephants. Just looking at these massive animals gives you respect for the wonders of Nature. I enjoy visiting the polar bears in the Zoo’s North America section, which has habitats ranging from honey bee gardens to rocky coasts for polar bears.

We like to top off our day at the zoo with a meal at Table, an Asheboro restaurant featuring American dishes from the Southeast. On a recent zoo trip with Bennett, Marah enjoyed the grits and greens there, and Bennett pulled out all the stops with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I get hungry just looking at the menu.

We support the zoo through a lifetime membership that also gives us free admission to all of the North Carolina Aquariums, which are operated by the state Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. We’ve been to the aquariums several times, including the ones at Pine Knoll Shores, Fort Fisher near Wilmington, and Roanoke Island in Manteo. Bennett loves the sea otters, especially when they’re awake and playful.

Zoo and aquarium visits benefit small children in countless ways. Unlike the videos that leave them glued to a screen, seeing, hearing, and smelling a variety of wild animals stimulates kids’ senses, creating an emotional connection and a desire to learn new vocabulary to name what they see. Seeing the animals in their natural habitats, like those at the North Carolina Zoo, helps children understand the importance of preserving a variety of open and forested spaces. Kids also can learn about global efforts to conserve endangered species, such as the North Carolina Zoo’s work to protect Bennett’s beloved African lions and other vulnerable species. Moreover, educators say zoo visits often live on in kids’ minds to become cherished family memories.

As a kid, I enjoyed trips with my aunt and uncle to the Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, S. C., one of the top zoos in the country. I’m glad Marah and I can provide similar memories for Bennett. As Visit the Zoo Day rolls around this month, I hope you will have a chance to appreciate your local zoo as well!