Last week I forcibly ripped myself away from the computer screen, behind which I’ve spent way too much of the last month. The day I picked for my grand escape was not the most delicious day of the week by a long shot. Rain and snow flirted with damp air currents, keeping the less intrepid indoors. It was a perfect day to visit my own private zoo.This little monkey played hide and seek with me, as he munched a cricket. He’s a young Patas Monkey.
This guy’s mighty roaring drew me toward the lions. But I dilly-dallied long enough that it was already nap time by the time I got over there. His girls were huddled nearby.
Feline soul patch?
Hmm, that corner looks a little bare. A nice little gazelle statue might brighten it up.
Ah, Gladys, just chill, wouldja? It’s nap time.
Meanwhile, this little red fox was not thrilled about the voyeur interrupting his nap.
I was just in time to feed Jabari a treat of lettuce leaves which his sensuous black tongue gently lifted from my hand. Usually there’s a hoard of half-pints screaming for a chance.
Three sweet lettuce leaves seems barely worthy of the interruption of male bonding.
What the . . .?
Oh, a porky with a Don King doo.
And a long-maned wolf keeping an eye on me.
I approach zoos with conflicted emotions. Part of me cries for animals kept in small enclosures, far from their natural habitat, and hounded day after day by the probing eyes and loud intrusions of two-leggeds, both large and small. Zoo Boise juggles the all too common dilemma of limited urban space. I discovered, however, that things aren’t much better even in a world-class operation like the San Diego Zoo. So how do animal lovers who work in these environments and who patronize them justify the impounding of wild animals for the gratification of human observers?
Like so many dilemmas of conscience, this one is complicated. The Earth is in the midst of the sixth mass extinction of species in half a billion years. The hows and whys of this phenomenon are many and complex, but the speed at which it is happening is frightening. Our own species would do well to herald these extinctions as our own canaries in life as we know it. Mass extinction is inexorably linked to climate change. And human involvement in the speed of that phenomenon links us directly to the animals we are losing.
While not all zoos are operated for protection of animal-kind, many have stepped to the forefront in global conservation movements. Zoo Boise, along with many other zoos around the world, participates in animal breeding and research and contributes funds for animal conservation. Zoo Boise collects an extra .50 from each admission ticket and $5 from membership fees to fund proposals around the world that address issues such as:
- Habitat restoration
- Wildlife conservation and management
- Community-based conservation, including eco-tourism
- Conservation education, including workshops and training
- Scientific research related to natural history, ecology, habitat, national park inventories or biological assessments.
Many of the animals on display at Zoo Boise, and other zoos around the country, are animals who have met with disaster in their native habitat. An eagle with an eye shot out, a monkey with a maimed arm, a lion with a heart murmur, or a young giraffe born in a zoo and never taught the survival techniques necessary to live in the wild. These animals live on, despite their disabilities. They are beloved and cared for and their presence helps the public learn more about the plight of their species and to develop the caring connections needed to sustain support for species conservation.
It still hurts to watch a beautiful Amur Tiger pacing his one-block enclosure. But it could be argued that the meter reader who paces cholorous city streets day after dreary day, bled of energy to break out of his web of employment, lives no better life than the pacing tiger. We are all thrown into circumstances over which we have little to no control. Perspective is survival.
You ask good questions. I think the meter reader has choices and a far bigger “cage” than the animals in most zoos. We two-leggers have a lot to answer for in the way we treat animals.
LikeLike
That’s for sure. And most of the damage done to the animals of our planet has happened thanks to our infernal meddling and tinkering with the world, as if we were gods almighty, when in reality dogs might handle it all better. There’s no guarantee that our noble efforts to save what we’re losing will have positive effects in the long run, but is that reason for us to not try? I’m all over the place on this issue…as I am on many.
LikeLike
My own emotional conflicts regarding zoos had me almost in tears when I visited Regent’s Park Zoo in London as a young man. To see Guy, the zoo’s famous gorilla, staring morosely at visitors through the bars of his cage was particularly saddening. The intelligence in his eyes transmitted the impression we were invading the privacy of what was little more, or rather less, than a prison cell. I could never return to a zoo after that, even though I recognise how valuable they can be in preserving many species. The problem is they are used far too often as an excuse for killing animals in their natural habitat, and it is there our efforts should be concentrated.
Guy died in 1978 at the age of thirty-three. There are many who believe it was as a result of loneliness, as gorillas can live to 45-50 even in the wild.
Lovely photos, by the way.
LikeLike
You raise a profoundly important point about how zoo animals come to their cages. I suspect that in the past, all of them came as a result of violence and payoffs to people who had few other options for making a living. Supposedly (and I pray this is true) most reputable zoos today, will not pay for animals seized from the wild. Most zoo animals have been born and raised in captivity, or as in the case with several of the Zoo Boise animals, they were rescued from some disaster in the wild. For example, we have had bear cubs that were found alone and partially burned after wild fires and we have an eagle that was blinded in one eye by some —-ing irresponsible idiot with a BB gun. That said, it should be the person who shot the eagle that we walk past and stare at behind bars, not the bird. And, the question still stands: Why do we consider ourselves in the god role? If animals are injured naturally, isn’t that nature’s way of controlling population? And being born into captivity sounds as cruel as captivating. What we do to ourselves and others.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Linda, I will need to share this with my daughter. Love the giraffes with crossed necks. Have a happy new year. BTG
LikeLike
Thanks! Hope your daughter enjoys it. You have a happy as well! Maybe we’ll see each other in 2015. 😉
LikeLike
Linda, I read there was an earthquake in Idaho. I hope it was not near you. BTG
LikeLike
Yes, there was a 4.9, I believe, but in a very sparsely populated area.About 20 years ago, the same town experienced a 5-somthing quake which knocked down a brick wall beside which two children were coincidentally walking to school. They were killed. But this quake, the largest of a swarm of them in the past few months, only knocked a few things of shelves, and caused a few rock slides on the roads. Nothing major. Thanks for thinking of me. It’s about a 6 hour drive north of my home, very near my favorite ski area.
LikeLike
I love that you did these pics in black and white! What wonderful texture and personality you have captured! Happy New Year Linda.
LikeLike
I am grateful if these animals can have a shot at survival. I too was always saddened when the animals were given a concrete cage – not really natural. You captured the sleepy winter life. I bet they enjoyed having a visitor. Wishing you a Happy New Year. Sorry I wasn’t over to wish you a Merry Christmas – I to have been trying to enjoy the days away from a flat screen.
Warm Smiles Linda
LikeLike
Thanks for taking the time to stop by, Leslie. I’ve been horrible remiss in my reading and commenting lately. Hopefully, I’ll do better now that a major project is almost finished.
I wonder if the residents of the zoo enjoy company or hate it. It’s hard to know. We’d like to think they like it. I am endlessly fascinated by animals, so I love seeing them…albeit the jiggery feelings in my heart at their plight.
May the new year treat you with great kindness.
LikeLike
Thanks for the thoughtful post. I too am torn about zoos for the reasons you state. I do love your photos though, especially the giraffes. Happy New Year!
LikeLike
I’m glad you enjoyed the photos, despite the tricky nature of the topic. Sigh. There are so many things in this world that seem out of whack…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Linda, I am glad you are OK and the quake was in a sparsely populated area. Best wishes, BTG
LikeLike
Thanks, Keith
LikeLike
Like you, my opinion on zoos is more of a contradiction. Our national bird is the Monkey-Eating Eagle and the only time I’ve ever seen these awesome creatures were in their conservatory in Davao. I don’t think we’ll have any more left if they weren’t bred and cared for in captivity.
Encroaching in the natural habitat of these animals is a tragedy of modernization and I’m afraid it will take some time before we learn to live with them rather than compete with them for survival.
Nonetheless, these photos are magical, Linda! Love them. 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you Nel. It appears that nearly all my visitors share my troubled relationship with zoos. My own photos haunt me, the porcupine behind the mesh cage…It’s hard to square that with anything but guilt. Of course, the cage is large, they are merely perched on branches and leaning against it in sleepy repose, yet…
It’s funny. With what we are doing to the environment of our planet, perhaps we should consider zoos for humans as a way of preserving our own species, for as the animals go, so do we. Who will our caregivers be?
LikeLike
I am a bit late in commenting, Linda. I liked all your pictures. The way you were able to shoot all the different animals is very impressive.The pictures also show the wintry conditions in Zoo Boise. A lot of the animals seem to have open space, which is good. Looking forward to more of your pictures in the new year! Best wishes,
Uta 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks Auntyuta. I’m way behind as well!
LikeLike