Don’t Feed the Animals

It has been unseasonably warm this January and considering the high on Saturday would be in the sixties, it was suggested we visit the zoo. When it comes to quality, active conservation and the willingness to create decent habitats, the Denver Zoo rates very highly. Saying that, there is a certain amount of guilt I have when visiting a zoo. Granted, without the efforts of zoos and nature parks around the world, many species of animals would no longer exist. As it stands, even with the efforts of so many, we could lose thousands of species of animals in only half a century. That is alarming and it is all down to the careless nature of just one species — man.

It was no surprise that the zoo was crowded considering how lovely and mild the weather was. I am not a big fan of crowds and a crowd at the zoo can try the patience of most anyone. My son was having a great time though and that was the most important thing for me. I found that as we approached each exhibit, parents (myself included) engaged their children in almost the exact same way. “Look at that! That’s a (insert name of animal here)!” The children would the exclaim the name of the animal, stare for a while and then move on. Some parents (myself included) took the time to read the information on the plaque. Considering my son is four, he was not that interested but it was different for some of the older children I observed. One little girl who must have been eight became visibly upset when her mom explained the beautiful tiger that she found so captivating was near extinction. She started asking questions and her mom answered them the best she could but you could tell the girl wanted to know more. Perhaps when she goes back to school, she will check out a book on these magnificent beasts and this will mark the beginning of her own personal conservation efforts as an adult.

A zoo provides a convenient display of all our favorite animals in as realistic a habitat as possible. We stroll up to their enclosures, point, take a photo and experience the thrill of having the opportunity to be so close to animals that you would normally have to travel thousands of miles to see. The exotic nature of seeing a zebra, giraffe, lion, tiger, panda or monkey has entertained the masses for centuries. Thankfully most zoos are moving beyond the thrill of the spectacle and making a conscious effort to assist with the conservation efforts of various countries worldwide. It is disturbing that not all zoos follow Denver’s example. I will never forget my visit to Regent’s Park Zoo in London. Though it had its attributes, the image of a 5′ aardvark constantly pacing in an 8′ x 5′ glass enclosure still haunts me.

For every person who visits a zoo wanting to gain knowledge and is empathetic to the plight of so many species of animals, there are always those who consider a zoo just another form of entertainment — like a movie or video game. Banging on the glass of the aquariums, throwing rocks at the hippo to get it to move, throwing a fit or chastising the management when certain animals were not in plain view and my absolute favorite — feeding the animals people food. There are of course exhibits where you can purchase food to feed certain animals and I believe this is an effort to appease the ignorant and uncaring nature of so many who find a thrill in animals eating whatever is thrown to them. We sat at one of the outdoor cafe’s and enjoyed a couple hot dogs and as I looked around I noticed a small child throwing anything he could break apart toward the peacocks roaming around. Of course the sparrows were quick and gobbled up everything available but still. Most of the food we eat is not even good for us, why do we think that just because something will eat what we throw to them, that it benefits them? Quite plainly, it does not. Bread in particular can be very harmful to birds. Here is one resource that explains why.

Overall my trip to the zoo was a satisfying one. I was very pleased that there were children who were there not just to be entertained but also to learn. I was inspired by the empathy I witnessed and this gave me hope. We need these children to continue the efforts of so many caring individuals who give their life to saving various species of animals on this planet.

I am pleased I was able to capture the following images. Enjoy.

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