Who doesn’t love hanging out with orangutans, peering at seahorses and watching lemurs bask in the sunshine? Zoos and aquariums draw crowds with their charming residents and magical way of entertaining all ages. Many also play an important role in conservation, too, through research, funding and breeding programmes. From prancing wolves to preening otters, these are the best places around the US to get up-close to some of the world’s most fascinating, and frequently funny, creatures.