At the Zoo

Someone told me it's all happening at the zoo. ~ Paul Simon

When it comes to zoos, my feelings are ambivalent.

Some locations have poor reputations when it comes to animal welfare. Those are obviously avoided. Others are considered to be far more competent. The fifty-five acre Riverview Park in Peterborough is regarded as one of the two most ethical zoos in Canada and touches on the positive aspects of zoos (research and education, captive breeding for endangered species). Still, I felt a significant degree of discomfort seeing these magnificent creatures in captivity. Part of me was thrilled just to see them up close-ish, knowing that for the vast majority of the visitors to this admission-free zoo, it would be the closest we'd ever get to seeing these beauties in person. The other part of me feels deeply for these animals who will never know how they were intended to live in their natural existence.

All that having been said, I still opted to have a wander around this small but versatile park, one day last month. I enjoyed the day - especially the always-fine company of my good friend, Carol Anne. Aside from one lynx which was showing signs of stress by pacing, the animals seemed to be content and well cared for. Still, with a lot of thought between then and now, I have hopped off of the fence. I suspect that I won't be returning to a zoo, anytime soon.

For what it's worth, the following photos are from that day.

Day two was heavy for those short of sleep,

then Janice gave voice to her Kosmic Blues,

and the crowd bawled wild as Barbary sheep.

~ Le Moxie Mox

Handsome creatures - these Barbary sheep.

Fell into a deeper sleep

Where I started counting Barbary sheep

~ Justin Khaleel Jennings

But those horns look rather sharp.

A worthy man is still worthy even penniless. A donkey is a donkey even if he is finely saddled.

~ Turkish Proverb

This little Sicilian donkey was both shy and curious.

Don't Worry. Be Capy.

This is a Capybara. You wouldn't think that the world's largest rodent would be such a sweet-looking animal.

Of course there is a monkey. There is always a monkey.

~ Doug Dorst

The Squirrel monkeys were numerous and amusing.

MONKEY, n. An arboreal animal which makes itself at home in genealogical trees.

~ Ambrose Bierce

And active.

I am quite sure now that often, very often, in matters concerning religion and politics a man's reasoning powers are not above the monkey's

~ Mark Twain

And cheeky!
(The young women were allowed admittance into the monkeys' environment. They were behind glass for the rest of us.)

Santa knows Physics: Of all colors, Red Light penetrates fog best. That's why Benny the Blue-nosed reindeer never got the gig.

~ Neil deGrasse Tyson

Being followed by a turkey, the caribou/reindeer was not looking its noble best as it was deep into moulting season. 

Sloth Fact: These sluggish tree-dwellers move so slowly that algae can grow on their coats.

 ~ National Geographic

The sloth has to be one of the strangest, cutest and slowest mammals on the face of the planet.

In the morning I woke like a sloth in the fog.

~ Leslie Connor

Did I mention cute?

Envy the kangaroo. That pouch setup is extraordinary; the baby crawls out of the womb when it is about two inches long, gets into the pouch, and proceeds to mature. I'd have a baby if it would develop in my handbag.

~ Rita Rudner

A small mob of kangaroos, a fair distance from my camera's lens. The upright one has a tangled mess of joey limbs in her pouch.

Through the purple corridors

The screaming scarlet Ibis flew

~ Oscar Wilde

This eye-catching creature is the Scarlet Ibis. Its colour comes from pigment in the crustaceans it eats.

There is a strange animal in our zoo called a meerkat

That makes me laugh every time I look at

Although "kat" is in its name

It's no feline just the same

So you can say the meerkat is no mere cat.

~ Joe Flach

A litter of adorable meerkat pups - too sleepy to be in their classic upright position.

Camels are wonderful animals. Witty, intelligent and sensitive. ~ Robyn Davidson

This lovely lady is a Bactrian camel.

I distrust camels, and anyone else who can go a week without a drink. ~ Joe E. Lewis

Her coy smile is for the male which she knows is on the other side of the fence. She patiently awaits their reunion...

On horseback you feel as if you're moving in time to classical music; a camel seems to progress to the beat of a drum played by a drunk.

~ Walter Moers

Though I suspect her smile will fade somewhat when she sees what a boorish slob he has become.

More photos from around town coming up before too long.