The Bronx Zoo, a reflection on a recent visit
Well, today I went to the Bronx Zoo for the first time since like 4th grade or something. I went with a new friend I met at work. We had a good time. It was around 80 degrees...so beautiful. And the penguins were outside. They weren't even in the water. I didn't think penguins could take the heat. Oh well, I guess that is what global warming will do, and nature will adapt. Whatever.
I find it hard to believe that these animals are "abused," as some of those animal rights activists will claim. If anything, I complain that they are coddled too much. I mean, all the animals were just laying around in the shade. No natural predators to worry about, no real hunting to do. There was a cheetah sitting on it's ass the whole time. It was advertised as one of the fastest animals in the world. BS, not that one. That cheetah probably never had to run in it's life. I bet I could outrun that fat lazy bastard. Think about it...the only time they would run is to hunt and avoid predators. They don't have such worries. I wish the zoo would feed them actual live prey, and let people watch them hunt...that is the real beauty of these creatures. Let the animals BE animals. But oh well. 'THAT' would be wrong. 'THAT' would be unfair to the poor, helpless prey; feeding them live to their predators. Blah Blah Blah. The zoo is now run by some conservation society. Some conservation. These animals couldn't hunt to save their lives. Just wait...a few generations of this coddling will ruin the species.
It was nice to see all the animals, though. I like relating animals to people. Different species have different behaviors. Some lay around all day, and hunt only for themselves when they are hungry. Others hunt for their entire pack or colony. Some are more playful than others (the two cute little tiger cubs were adorable). Some live in seclusion, while others prefer company. Even when they prefer company, similar herds will still compete with each other for food and territory. And then there is mating, oh yes. Some parents abandon their young. Sometimes, raising the newborns is solely the mothers job, and the father goes around banging everything he can find (I saw a male mouse that wouldn't take no for an answer, the poor female, I swear she squeaked, "rape!"). Other times the fathers play a large role in protecting and actually even raising the offspring. And the time spent raising the young varies also. Some are out of the "house" by the time they can walk (I'm sure many of our parents like that idea!). Nonetheless, the animals that survive childhood are those that are independent, those that can fend for themselves. That is one instinct that I think many humans have lost throughout the evolutionary process.
Most of the animals were not very friendly. I can't blame them. People watching you all day. Watching you eat, sleep, shit, and fuck. Talk about an intrusion. But they should get used to it, eventually, especially if they are in that situation since birth. They are treated very well overall. The more people they attract, the better they will be treated (i.e. juicy steaks, bigger habitat, etc.). Every place treats their 'star' better than the others. If only they competed for attention; now that would be cool. They could run around and show off their talents. The cheetah's could chase prey and show off their speed, agility, and hunting abilities. I mean, that would be more natural for the animals anyway. Get over that performance anxiety. A red light district in the zoo...live sex shows. Bizarre mating rituals...maybe it'll give some people ideas on how to "spice up" their own lives. "Oh honey, look at that position, think you could manage that?" LOL
Well, not quite.
One thing that particularly pissed me off...the damn gecko's. Not to be confused with Geico. There were at least four different exhibits with them in it, and neither of us could find the sob's in any of them. Ahhh! Talk about shy.
Well, I have to say it was a good day.
I find it hard to believe that these animals are "abused," as some of those animal rights activists will claim. If anything, I complain that they are coddled too much. I mean, all the animals were just laying around in the shade. No natural predators to worry about, no real hunting to do. There was a cheetah sitting on it's ass the whole time. It was advertised as one of the fastest animals in the world. BS, not that one. That cheetah probably never had to run in it's life. I bet I could outrun that fat lazy bastard. Think about it...the only time they would run is to hunt and avoid predators. They don't have such worries. I wish the zoo would feed them actual live prey, and let people watch them hunt...that is the real beauty of these creatures. Let the animals BE animals. But oh well. 'THAT' would be wrong. 'THAT' would be unfair to the poor, helpless prey; feeding them live to their predators. Blah Blah Blah. The zoo is now run by some conservation society. Some conservation. These animals couldn't hunt to save their lives. Just wait...a few generations of this coddling will ruin the species.
It was nice to see all the animals, though. I like relating animals to people. Different species have different behaviors. Some lay around all day, and hunt only for themselves when they are hungry. Others hunt for their entire pack or colony. Some are more playful than others (the two cute little tiger cubs were adorable). Some live in seclusion, while others prefer company. Even when they prefer company, similar herds will still compete with each other for food and territory. And then there is mating, oh yes. Some parents abandon their young. Sometimes, raising the newborns is solely the mothers job, and the father goes around banging everything he can find (I saw a male mouse that wouldn't take no for an answer, the poor female, I swear she squeaked, "rape!"). Other times the fathers play a large role in protecting and actually even raising the offspring. And the time spent raising the young varies also. Some are out of the "house" by the time they can walk (I'm sure many of our parents like that idea!). Nonetheless, the animals that survive childhood are those that are independent, those that can fend for themselves. That is one instinct that I think many humans have lost throughout the evolutionary process.
Most of the animals were not very friendly. I can't blame them. People watching you all day. Watching you eat, sleep, shit, and fuck. Talk about an intrusion. But they should get used to it, eventually, especially if they are in that situation since birth. They are treated very well overall. The more people they attract, the better they will be treated (i.e. juicy steaks, bigger habitat, etc.). Every place treats their 'star' better than the others. If only they competed for attention; now that would be cool. They could run around and show off their talents. The cheetah's could chase prey and show off their speed, agility, and hunting abilities. I mean, that would be more natural for the animals anyway. Get over that performance anxiety. A red light district in the zoo...live sex shows. Bizarre mating rituals...maybe it'll give some people ideas on how to "spice up" their own lives. "Oh honey, look at that position, think you could manage that?" LOL
Well, not quite.
One thing that particularly pissed me off...the damn gecko's. Not to be confused with Geico. There were at least four different exhibits with them in it, and neither of us could find the sob's in any of them. Ahhh! Talk about shy.
Well, I have to say it was a good day.