What are the three best things about visiting the Phoenix zoo?

The three best things about the zoo? I say:

1. The grandchildren always want to go again. That is why we have an annual pass. We visited the zoo today. Admittedly, one of the grandchildren was heard to say, “Grandma really likes the zoo.”

2. The Phoenix zoo rescues endangered animals and releases them into the wild when possible. Today I saw a California condor spread its magnificent wings and fly to another perch. Someday it may be released into the wild.

3. The zoo habitat for the animals keeps getting larger and more respectful of the welfare of the animals. We have seen a lot of improvements from 65 years ago, when Bo-bo the gorilla was confined to a 15 foot by 15 foot concrete room at the Seattle zoo. The Bible says, “A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel” (Proverbs 12:10). We have to keep studying the way of the Lord as it relates to the care of animals, and we have to be more respectful for their welfare.

The Phoenix Zoo began as a personal project of Robert Maytag, grandson of the founder of the Maytag appliance company. Robert Maytag formed the Arizona Zoological Society (now the Arizona Center for Nature Conservation) with the intention of opening a zoo in Phoenix. The zoo opened on November 21, 1962. Thank you, Robert Maytag! Click here to read more about the Phoenix Zoo.