Zoo

"He circled along in his warm skin, happy again because he was free and because he belonged. All of one's life is a struggle towards that; the narrow path between freedom and belonging. I have sometimes sacrificed freedom in order to belong, but more often I have given up all hope of belonging" - Winterson


I went to the zoo today. The last time i was there, i was in primary school and time froze in this auditorium. all we could do was observe some plants. it was at least a decade ago. today, i returned with a different culture shock at a more commercialised zoo, and left with a heavy heart.

i was quite excited to see the polar bears actually. with the current rising awareness in global warming, so much has been said about how the polar bears will become extinct in 50 yrs. therefore i wanted to see how our own panda sld count its blessings. instead, i arrived at an empty cage. i'd imagined there to be ice and white-washed enclosure. instead, all i saw was merely a few boulders and what doesnt seem like ice water. the ground the bears walk(ed) on seemed plastic-ky, and it wasnt the winter-wonderland one'd imagine. it was such a tiny enclosure i instantly felt pity for the bears.

i read about lions and their unbelievably high sex drive(when i finally see 1 lion and 3 lioness just lazing ard, i was confused if they were all shagged out from the sex, or has the zoo disolved all sexual desires and interests), fell in love with the girrafe and ostrich and cheetah, was awed(as always) and terrified by the size of crocodiles, and wanted to bring one of the cheetahs home.

this trip renewed my interests in animals, and seeing how Steve Irwin could dedicate his life to the wild only makes me appreciate it more. i used to think zoos are noble in trying to preserve the little and extinct wildlife we have, while allowing us to study them upfront. I could scrutinise the scales of the crocodile without getting chomped, and touch a pony without gettin neighed. yet the paradox lies in how i felt a sense of pity for the animals. i cant imagine myself being a cheetah without the serengetti. i cant imagine myself being a polar ebar without ice-berg. nor can i imagine life as a penguin, forced to swim for all.

the things we do for "preservation". in the name of "saving" them, we prob also tamed whatever animal instinct they have and deserved.