In the natural world, plants are essential to life. They provide the oxygen we breathe and much of the food that we eat. Here at the Zoo, we know our flora is just as important as our fauna!
Plants around the Zoo are cared for by our Horticulture team. These dedicated staff members keep the Zoo grounds green and beautiful. Another important job of this team is teaching keepers to identify plants. This is important for collecting browse, branches for their animals to eat or interact with. Correctly identifying these plants ensures that our animals stay safe and healthy.
You can learn more about some of our trees and plants by using a citizen science app called iNaturalist. Citizen Science apps allow civilians to pitch in and help collect field data for scientists. The iNaturalist app helps to identify plants and animals through pictures. These images can then be shared with scientists for research purposes. How many different plants can you identify? Download the app and become a citizen scientist today!
Download on Apple Store or Google Play.