Know where to go to hear a lion’s roar, see chimpanzees swing their way through, tortoise walk and peacocks flaunt their beautiful feathers?

Yes, you got that right! We are talking about the zoo! Now, now, let’s hold those horses and not get carried away with the excitement. Let’s take a minute and recall the poem, Old Macdonald had a farm… with a cluck-cluck here, and a moo-moo there!

Animals are one of the most marvellous creations of God. The word itself is derived from the Greek word ‘animalis’, meaning having breath. Besides domesticating animals, the closest we get to them is in the zoo. Zoos are basically establishments for the purpose of conserving wildlife, especially those species that are endangered, meaning whose number are getting fewer, and to study and learn about animals and their behaviour. It is our responsibility to become conservators of the wild and save species from becoming extinct.

Most of us have visited the zoo at least once in our lifetime. If you haven’t, just get an adult to accompany you on a journey you will never forget! There are zoos in most large cities of Pakistan and today let us peek into the Karachi Zoological Gardens, which has a total of 835 animals.

Don’t believe it? Then you’ve got to go and see it for yourself! Oh, and while you are at it, do not forget to take a boat ride or experience how giraffe sees the world from that height by sitting on one of the rides! Do visit the monkeys — they sure do like all the attention!

The zoo, that is spread over 33 acres of land with beautiful gardens, is an affordable, exciting place for family picnics, allowing parents to relax and children to play. But how can there be picnics without food and refreshments? Yes! There are food stalls and a food court that has various food items. You can always pack a few snacks and take there too.

But the fun does not end here! There is more that the zoo has in store for you! Besides the 117 cages, there is another fun-filled source of entertainment. Yes, the zoo has a children’s area that has various rides. From the rollercoaster to the teacups and not to forget the pirate ship!

Is there something still bothering you? It’s the security issue at the zoo right? Well there’s nothing more to worry about because that has been taken care of too. The security conditions at the zoo have also been improved with guards walking all over the place, keeping a sharp eye, assisting families and guiding the lost tourists.

However, amidst all the fun and frolic do not forget the purpose of the zoo. Like our home,the zoo is an animal’s abode and one of the reasons they are kept there is to save them from getting harmed. Hence, take it as an opportunity to learn how they behave and communicate with each other. A zoo opens up a whole new world to animal life and generates love of animals.

Besides saving the precious wildlife that may be in danger out in the wild, the zoo provides shelter, basic necessities and protection from diseases. What may be a great source of enjoyment for individuals is a huge task for the management of the zoo. But these animal lovers are well-trained to handle both wild and tame beasts and provide them with favourable living conditions.

Now what are you waiting for? The winter vacation is round the corner and it a great opportunity to gather your picnic baskets and visit the zoo to have a fun-filled day with animals you may have never seen before.