Audubon Zoo

Some people feel animals should not be locked up. Hence the zoo should be abolished. But a zoo is one way where ordinary people can come to see and study exotic animals in person.  Without it only a small number of rich and privileged people would be able to do so.  It is not a back and white issue, but a balance between a number of honourable objectives.  The Audubon Zoo is one of those [;aces where the animals seem to be treated reasonably well, housed in fairly large spaces that resemble to some degree to their natural habitat.  

Upon entering Audubon Zoo in New Orleans, visitors are entertained by these dancing flamingoes.  They seem to be moving, posing continually, in close proximity.  Sometimes it is not easy to figure out which legs form a pair, or which head and neck belongs to which body and legs. Are they being awkward?  Or actually elegant?  Should I learn to dance from them?

A siamang turns his head to look at us, without bothering to turn his body around.  Perhaps because we are far away across the pond. Is he interested in us?  Or just being alert to potential danger?

A low-land gorilla lies in a hanging, swing bed.  Contemplating a twig in its hand.  Many of us probably have done something similar.  Or would love to do the same.  Now another gorilla approaches.  The first one quickly vacates the swing bed, which the approaching gorilla takes over immediately in one move, without hesitation.  The second gorilla presumably ranks higher in their social hierarchy.  This behaviour is so familiar among humans, isn’t it?

A leopard states at us, through the wire mesh fence.  What would happen if there were no fence?

The yawning tiger, on the other hand, is definitely bored.  He is probably thinking: When will I be able to jump across the moat, and climb that wall, to reach those people who are staring at me all the time?

The lions - father, mother, and almost-fully-grown children, - are right there in your face. Separated only by a piece of glass.  The lions know it.  We also know it.  We can pretend to touch them, comparing paws.

A giraffe and a zebra stroll past each other, seemingly imitating each other, except that they are in opposite directions.  Do they do that on purpose?  Perhaps, being fed well and not having to look out for predators, this is how they pass the time and entertain themselves?

Those wild boars, with everybody calling them “pumba”, have very nice brown coats.  Quite different from the more common grey, fierce-looking ones  These almost look cuddly.  Probably not in reality?

A tortoise tries to escape from an enclosure.  But it seems hopeless.  It should know it too.  Why is it still trying?  Maybe it is not so impossible after all?  Perhaps it is just forgetful?

The racoon seems busy, scanning the ground seemingly looking for something to steal.  It looks sneaky, ready to pounce anytime, slim fingers eager in waiting..  Funny to watch though.  

Alligators seemingly just float in the pond, randomly.  As soon as someone drops a morsel that could be food, everybody springs into action.  We are not supposed to feed the animals. Perhaps nobody told the child who dropped it.  Perhaps he doesn’t care?

The animals here seem healthy, well-fed, fairly happy, and ready to engage.  If there has to be a zoo, it should look somewhat like this.