Okay, I'll admit it - I'm not a big fan of zoos. I applaud all of the good work that they do in education and conservation, but they make me uncomfortable. The Cincinnati Zoo is one of my least favorites. It's old and it's in the middle of the city, with no room to expand. That means that the enclosures are TINY. While I love seeing animals, I don't like seeing them in such small spaces.
For that reason, I've only been to the Cincinnati Zoo once, and didn't have much desire to go back. When a friend suggested that we go to the zoo's "Tunes and Blooms" concert last week, however, there were a few things compelling me to go:
1. The zoo is a five minute walk from my apartment
2. Most flowers weren't going to be blooming much longer
3. I like free concerts
4. I like the fried foods and overpriced beverages served at free concerts
5. It was 75 degrees and sunny, and only a crazy person would choose to stay inside
So, off to the zoo I went. And I actually had a really good time. I saw lots of friends and a few animals, the bands were good, and the weather was absolutely perfect. All in all, it was an ideal spring evening.
Thinking of the zoo always reminds me of when Nate and I first moved to Cincinnati. For months, we didn't realize just how close we lived to it. Every morning, we would hear these incredibly loud noises that sounded just like monkeys. That led to many, many conversations in which we wondered what was making that noise, noted that it sounded like monkeys, theorized that it was some sort of weird bird, wondered why we only ever heard the weird bird noise coming from one direction, wondered if the weird bird was someone's pet, realized that the bird theory was ridiculous, and once again came back to monkeys. Which didn't make sense.
Of course, if we had looked at a map, we probably could have solved the mystery pretty quickly.
(this guy might look quiet and contemplative watching the sunset, but come 8 am it's a different story)
So anyway, it was a lovely day at the zoo, and I might even consider going back, if another free concert happens to fall on such a beautiful day.
How do you feel about zoos? Love them? Can't stand them? Somewhere in between?
I hope you had a good weekend!
27 comments:
I do like zoos a lot, but I enjoy arboretums more! I've only been twice, but I love to go. In fact I went last weekend and took a ton of photos!
The only flowers missing there were the tulips. It was a little late. So glad I got to see the tulips here on your blog!
=)
I loved these flower photo's! how pretty to see spring!
oh i love zoos! i really do. i wish to work in a one someday. but you're right. it kills me to see them cramped in to spaces too small
I love the Cincy zoo. We go A LOT. Of course, it's a bit different when you have a 2 year old who is really excited by all the animals. And don't you think it's pretty cool that they've covered the entire parking lot in solar panels?
i like zoo.. but here they arent very atractive.. i would love to visit a zoo somehwere abroad.. lovely pictures Ali, lovely colours!!
Amylou, oh yes, I love arboretums! One of my favorite spots in town is a cemetery/arboretum - it so beautiful.
Kel, I'm glad you liked the pictures! We aren't having the best spring weather, so I'm trying to enjoy any nice days while I can.
Uuna, I've been to some really good zoos and preserves where the animals have plenty of space, that is so nice!
Jessica, the friend who invited me along was saying that before she had her son, she was uncomfortable about zoos, but now she has a membership because it's so nice to GO somewhere. I can definitely understand the appeal to parents!
Oh yes, I did see the solar panels - very cool!!
Thanks, Marysza!
I used to docent at an AZA-accredited zoo and finally decided to stop going! It was a combination of: how the animals were kept, how the animals were considered by *management*, how the public interacted with the animals *because* of the management and -- largely, animal husbandry and where the animals can go when they're no longer "of use".
I wrote about it here:
http://jesseanneo.blogspot.com/2010/05/pettipants-maiden-voyage-outfit-post.html
I love our local zoo. It's about 20 minutes away and when I was younger my mom would take us once, maybe twice a year. When I was a single adult I'd go by myself a lot. I love seeing the animals and learning something even though some of the info hasn't been updated in awhile. It wasn't until I was married that my hubby inadvertently put a stop to my zoo trips. He finally admitted to me it depressed him seeing the animals locked up.
I apparently never saw it that way when I was younger. It was always education in my mind. It still is. Now that the weather has warmed up, I'll venture there again. Even if it's by myself. :)
The zoo in my hometown - Wichita, KS, is actually pretty nice. Charles Koch has put in a ton of money to keep it as nice as it ever was and the animals have quite a bit of space to run around/play in. So I like them. But some are sad - like the Brookfield zoo here in Chicago, I hate it. But I love hte Lincoln Park zoo. So it all just depends. But all those flowers look AMAZING!!
Looks like you had a most wonderful time and those tulips are so beautiful, what lovely photos you take!
We went to the Lowery Park zoo (Tampa) on Saturday. I'm zoo-picky. I only like big ones or ones with a good reputation for animal-welfare. I love animal Kingdom. I also love your photos! I've been meaning to do a post on all the random flower shots I have taken.
I have a hard time with zoos as well. The bigger ones with large enclosures are wonderful. But the smaller ones where animals don't have room to really move about, make me sad.
I did feel a little better about it reading Life of Pi, where he talked about his father the zoo director. His take was that the animals were well fed, well looked after and therefore didn't need big expanses to roam. All of their needs were taken care of so they could just laze around all day.
Doesn't sound half bad when you think about it that way.
zoos are mean. the enclosures they build, even the "larger" ones are never big enough.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, everyone. It's interesting to hear everyone's views.
Jesse, I'm glad you linked to your post. I didn't want to go into it here, but the exploitation issue is a big one for me. It's sad to know (but really not surprising) that most visitors treat the animals without respect.
I have similar thoughts about zoos as you do. Gorgeous tulips/photos!
p.s. The monkey/weird bird story cracked me up!
Have you even had the chance to go to an open range zoo? They are amazing! There's one about 6 hours drive from us, they offer a 'zoo-fari' experience where you get to stay overnight. Very awesome.
I have a love-hate relationship with zoos. As a kid, I loved the Bronx zoo because when else does a NYC kid see animals? We moved to DC, and I was okay with the DC and Baltimore zoos, until recently, when it occurred to me that the living spaces were really small and concrete floors are bad for lil critter feet. I LOVE the Phoenix zoo in AZ. My future-sister-in-law works there and I was able to feed and pet the elephants (my fav animals of all time!). Their enclosures are really spacious. I also got to feed and pet the tortoises, which was neat, and visit the animals in the zoo's animal hospital. I think zoos are mixed blessings and curses... some species are aided in survival due to zoos, while others are damaged in some way. It's hard to figure out what is "right" by the animals. But for me, I love how zoos allow people to learn about animals they may not otherwise see.
Those all sound like great reasons to go to the zoo. I've never been to the Denver zoo. Maybe I'll have to do that this summer. I think it's hilarious that you heard animal noises and didn't know what they were.
I'm not much of a fan of zoos either but your photos of all the flowers here look lovely. The zoos in Berlin (there are two) are both very depressing and old fashioned, not enough room for the animals to move around.
I honest to God thought there was a truck of over-turned monkeys on my first morning on Brookline. Seriously.
First off...I never realized you were in Cincy. We're North..in Middletown.
Anyways, I don't like zoos but I like them better than the circus. At least the animals aren't 'performing'.
The kids enjoyed the zoo and we got a pass this year because I hope to instill in them stewardship of the planet and animals. They're in love with the polar bear and the fact it hasn't any snow has bothered them so much. It's lead to a deeper compassion and drive to recycle and such.
Honey
I LOVE the New Orleans Audubon Zoo, just two miles from my house! It's so nice to just walk around in nice weather, especially on days when there aren't 12 school groups there! I'm a member, and go at least once a week, though my pics don't compare with yours! I'm going today, so I'll try again! Also, I don't know how I never noticed that you're an archaeologist? CRM? I'm a shovel bum in between teaching semesters and my husband's a geophysicist!
I like zoos, and I've been to our zoo a lot of times! I had small children for several years...
But I really LOVE tulips! Thanks for sharing your photos.
I was there the same night!
http://angelas-eyes.blogspot.com/2011/04/this-is-just-short-and-sweet-post-today.html
We also went last Thursday because I really want to see Seedy Seeds. The tulips are slowly losing their magic, but they're selling the bulbs this week. ☺
Angela
Hi. Just found your blog thru Grosgrain. Loved the skirt tutorial, going to make one this afternoon. I really like your blog, you must be really busy with work & school. I am really interested in Polaroid cameras. I didn't realize you could still buy them. Do you know if the film is longer lasting now then it was when it first came out? The pictures I have from so many years ago are totally faded brown and you really can't tell what they are.
Best Wishes for a great summer. Cathe
oh man, i didn't know you were from ohio, too!!
:)
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