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| - Ahhhh the Zoo. I'm so conflicted when it comes to caged animals
CAGED ANIMALS
Bah..I've never been one to like watching animals caged in such small areas. If you think about it, it's like you yourself being stuck in your tiny washroom for the rest of your life. Watching the animals just pace back and forth, back and forth, back and forth is really depressing b/c you know that this is their life until their death.
yes I know I know...living in captivity saves their lives from hunters, deforestation etc but I still can't help myself to feel bad for them. No freedom, no hope.
Anyways...
JUST WOW
I don't think i've ever been to the zoo so this was definitely an experienced. I was so excited to see the animals. And the polar bears and monkeys were so cute. No wonder that woman jumped in to the polar bear grounds to play with them. lol
Watching the gorillas and orangutans were so interesting. It's unbelievable how intelligent they are and it was really great to think about evolution of mankind.
SPECIAL THINGS TO SEE
The baby gorilla! This baby gorilla is so small and it's so fun to watch it interact with it's family. You can see the other gorillas playing with it and watching the baby roll down the hill like a log. I see how they go the saying "monkeying around".
BENEFITS OF GOING TO THE ZOO IN THE WINTER
There are way less people. It was so great because when they were feeding the animals, you didn't have to fight for a spot to watch. Everyone was able to watch with enough space to be comfortable.
Another benefit is you are actually closer to the animals. Since it is too cold for most of the animals to stay outside, i.e. rhinos, monkeys etc, the indoor area is much smaller and you are able to be much closer to the animals. Plus, there isn't that mesh or fencing that distorts your view/pictures.
There are plenty of opportunities to stay inside to get warmed up as they bring most animals inside.
Also, you have more opportunities to ask the trainers about the animals. See next portion.
WHAT I LEARNED
I met this woman named Charmane in the orangutan park. She was an absolute delight. She goes to Malaysia every summer and helps rehabilitate orangutans who have been hurt by hunters, etc.
This is what she taught me.
Orangutans are very intelligent. They like to make friends with humans and imitate what humans do.
Women orangutans are in competition with other women, even humans. So women orangutans will only take a liking to human women who are thinner b/c they don't feel threatened by them.
Men orangutans like bigger women orangutans for mating purposes as only larger ones can reproduce. They can only reproduce once every 7 to 8 years.
50 orangutans die each week in Malaysia due to palm oil industry.
Orangutans now are being used for prostitution (yes...men pay to have sex with orangutans b/c it's a novelty) and are used as servants in the "massage parlours". Yes those type of massage parlours.
Orangutan brains are a delicacy. In the black market, they take a live orangutan, tie it up somehow, have the top portion of the head displayed at the table, cut it open, pour hot oil on it and then serve it to the diners.
When I learned about this I felt disgusted and sick to my stomach. I would like to help and suggestions of adopting an animal was mentioned. Education and awareness is key. We have to be aware that our quest to eat healthier re: palm oil is contributing to the extinction of our animals. However, I have no suggestions on what we can do.
Because of this education of the animals, I feel the zoo is such an important place to learn about the world and for people to be more aware of the situations that are happening globally.
IMPROVEMENTS
When we went in, the ticket person didn't give us a map. I think they should offer this when we enter.
The map itself was kind of confusing. Some of the large maps scattered across the zoo didn't have "you are here" signs.
We weren't able to see all the animals (I guess b/c it was winter). So we missed out on the Elephants, ostriches, and giraffes that I noticed.
CONCLUSION
Despite the fact that the animals are caged up, the zoo is an incredible experience. To be close so close to animals from all parts of the world is phenomenal. I would have stayed all day just watching the gorillas.
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