National Zoo and Aquarium Month takes place this June and is a celebration of the preservation of wildlife. Educating people about different animals and fish is not only fun, but the education can help inspire people to preserve wildlife in our world.
Each and every year there are many animals who are closer and closer to extinction. If we educate ourselves about the wildlife, we might inspire a generation to try and make our life on Earth not only better for us, but maintain the wildlife that is important to the survival of our environment.
Luckily on Long Island, we have many great zoos and aquariums. When many people think of zoos, one always thinks of the Bronx Zoo. Additionally, the New York Aquarium is very popular as well. But, although they do not have the distinctions as zoos or aquariums, Long Island has many animal preserves and habitats. Be sure to check one of this month or sometime this summer!
Zoos
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Long Island Game Farm - Manorville
With giraffes, kangaroos, cougars, and many more exotic animals, this is one of Long Island's most notable zoos. -
Seatuck Suffolk County Environmental Center - Islip
With their dedication to preserving wildlife, this environmental center offers workshops to educate visitors about the wildlife on Long Island. -
Sweetbriar Nature Center - Smithtown
Focused on nature science education, this nature center works to educate visitors about the importance of respecting the unique wildlife on Long Island. -
Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary and Audubon Center - Oyster Bay
This center is sanctuary for various songbird since the early 1920s.
Aquarium
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Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center - Riverhead
Also known as Atlantis Marine World, this is one of the most popular aquariums on the island offering visitors sea lion shows. a koi pond, and penguin pavilion. -
Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery and Aquarium - Cold Spring Harbor
With the largest living collection of New York State freshwater reptiles and fish, not only can guest enjoy their two buildings of aquariums, they can also take classes to learn more about local wildlife.
What zoo and aquariums do you plan on visiting this month or this summer? Tell us in the comments below!
Photo Credit: joshbousel / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)