How many species live in the Zoo? What role do bees play in Nature? And how can a pair of Persian Leopards travel from Lisbon to the Caucasus? In the weekend marking World Animal Day, on October 4, there are many questions to answer and stories to discover at the Zoo, with a special program designed for the whole family, according to a press release.
According to the same source, with around 2,000 animals from about 300 species, the Zoo will transform between October 3 and 5 into a “true space for discovery, with activities inviting children and adults to learn more about the animal kingdom, biodiversity and the daily work carried out in support of conservation”.
Among the offerings, visitors will be invited to embark on “On the Discovery of the Animal Kingdom”, a guided tour with the zoo educators that will lead families around the Zoo, getting to know its inhabitants better and discovering conservation projects that connect the institution to the four corners of the world.
But there is much more to explore. On October 4, it is time to embark on a journey to uncover “The Secrets of the Hive”, with the help of a beekeeper who will explain how a hive works, how bees live and the essential role they play in Nature.
For the little ones, the program also includes music and stories across the three days. In the Enchanted Forest, children’s concerts with Ricardo Reis Pinto give voice to the animals through songs and plenty of fun, with melodies that are sure to stay in the ear. In the “Wild Tale Time”, visitors can follow the story of Andrea and Zadig, a pair of Persian Leopards, on an adventure that takes them from Lisbon to the Caucasus and shows how Nature conservation can cross borders.
And because celebrating animals is also an opportunity to create, experiment and play, the “Biodiversity Atelier” offers activities inspired by feathers, scales and other elements of the animal world, through paintings and origami. In the “Nature Workshop”, visitors can transform into their favorite species with face painting and participate in a seed bomb workshop, taking a small piece of Nature home with them.
In addition to the special activities, there are also new inhabitants to meet. The three Persian Leopard cubs, born in April, are growing before our eyes and becoming increasingly curious about their surroundings. A Koala cub and a Cape Penguin chick can also be observed up close by visitors.
“On World Animal Day, the invitation is simple: come to the Zoo and let curiosity do the rest. After all, knowing is the first step toward wanting to protect,” the note concludes.
