Zoomania!
Every Saturday morning, a fine group of eight to ten perambulators make our way across the street to the Zoo. That’s capital-Z, because the Milwaukee County Zoo is, according to our son-in-law, the best zoo in the country. That kind of thing is always up for debate, but it certainly is one of the best. Zoos nowadays are not at all like they were in the past, with animals in cramped quarters and simply on display.
Some folks don’t realize that most animals come from zoo breeding programs, and are not captured and brought into foreign surroundings from the wild. To prevent genetic stagnation, there is a global data bank so zoos have a ready resource to draw upon to trade genetic material. (Isn’t that a cute euphemism for eggs and sperm?) Sometimes zoos trade animals for a period of time to breed a strong genetic match. That often means complicated negotiations, sometimes equivalent to ending a small war! Animals that are rescued and cannot be returned to the wild, or are being sold illegally, are another source for zoos. More genetic diversity.
Once in a zoo, animals are treated with compassion and respect, with attention paid to the environs they would have in the wild. It’s fun to see the tigers lounging in an area appearing to be directly connected to an area housing wild boars, one of their prey animals! A closer look shows that theirs a deep ravine between the two habitats, pretty well hidden from those of us on the outside looking in. Orangutans and most of the monkeys have access to the outdoors, where peacocks wander free. (The zoo here keeps their peacock population to about 30, sending the overflow to other zoos who want them. Apparently, peacocks are enthusiastic breeders!)
So, Saturday morning rolls around and we set off for an hour’s walk. Though I was warned “We walk fast,” I discovered it to be more of a comfortable amble, which is perfect. I often stop for animal photos, which means I have to accelerate to catch up to the veterans who do this every week, and don’t take time to lift the cameras.
This has become one of my “wilderness fixes.” Having come from a wooded lot a bit out in the country, I thought I’d have to forego the deer, the thick copses of trees, the plethora of birds. “Oh well,” I thought. “It has to be done. We’re not getting younger, and it’s best to move when we ourselves make the best decision.”
Well. I don’t have to give up much of anything. Two days ago, two does strolled down the sidewalk along the zoo perimeter, then disappeared down a drive going into the zoo itself. Nope, these were not zoo deer, but simply part of the local fauna. I know there are coyotes around, because coyotes are everywhere in urban environments, and locals have heard or spotted them.
As for birds, we have a resident hawk. Perhaps not strictly speaking resident. Occasionally, he floats around, hunting, then swoops up to perch on the top of one of our buildings to survey his domain. Because trees abound on the campus here, as well as the adjacent neighborhoods on either side of us, we do have birds. No birdfeeders allowed on our balconies, as you can imagine the mess that could be! Be hummingbird feeders? Yes. And we do have a little hummer who zooms in and partakes of our sugar water. Robins, starlings, sparrows, and various other avian friends use our fifth-floor flyway on a regular basis. True, we don’t have wild turkeys or foxes. But then, we don’t have burrowing woodchucks or chipmunks either! Nor do we have those pesky anthills that, once they’ve been zapped, just seem to move over six inches and start over. No killing weeds in the driveway cracks or cutting back grass that’s encroaching on the sidewalks. I could go on, but I have, after all, left all that behind. And without regret too!
But back to the zoo…
If I need a lift, I go down to watch the otters cavorting in their pool. “Cavorting” is the only word to describe these delightful critters, who need only water and a slide to create their own personal waterpark. For pure patience, I take time to visit the hippo, whose pool is faced on one side with glass so we voyeurs can see him up close. The only problem? The rear end of a hippo ain’t exactly gorgeous… Only once have I seen him turned around with those little wiggly ears and the two nostrils above the surface. Of course, with a name like Happy, maybe it really doesn’t take much to satisfy him. Again, a lot of water to keep his non-perspiring skin moist and cool.
Those crazy peacocks are always fun, with the males sometimes–but only sometimes–displaying that gorgeous tail for the females, who often turn their back and strut away. At least, at this time of year, as soon are trailed by these tiny balls of fluff that are–oh look!– actually peacock chicks. The male calls seem more like screams for attention than come-hither beckonings.
Giraffes stretching for the branches blowing in the breeze just out of reach, even from those mile-long tongues. Baby impalas, stoic vultures, big cats, tiny monkeys, and an orangutan who covers herself with a sheet when she’s had enough of people ooing and ahing over her. The Zoo has it all, and more.
No zoo walk on Saturday, the Fourth of July, so I just contented myself with observing the wildlife lounging in our own living room. Husband, adult children…and oh, don’t forget the dog!