My Outside Magic

My extended outdoor experience was spent today at the Fort Worth Zoo. It is hard to call the zoo ordinary when it is filled with such extraordinary creatures, but for some that may be the case. I, however, was awed by all the animals I got to see up close today. 

I started off the trip with viewing primates such as bonobos, gorillas, and mandrills. The face of the mandrills immediately caught my attention due to their bright blue and red noses. I thought about the natural selection that must have led to this trait being selected for (perhaps sexually) and how it was unique compared to the rest of the monkeys there. Reading more about them, they actually use their bright noses for their advantage to easily find each other in the thick brush of jungles. The gorillas also caught my special attention because of how similar they appear to our common ancestors. Watching their behavior and their hands enthralled me since it mirrors us so closely. I even got to see the youngest drinking milk from its mother. I found myself getting more emotional watching them since I could picture more vividly the bleakness of living in a caged habitat. 

The habitat I spent the most time at was the elephants. The newest addition to the family, Ladybird, was lovingly following what was perhaps her mother. Another pair was playing in the water and using their trunks in a snorkel-like fashion. The elephants are the largest creatures I have seen which really puts how small we are into perspective. 

Other habitats I enjoyed were the big cats, although most were taking cat-naps. My favorite animal is the cheetah so I was particularly happy to see them basking in the sun. I saw a pair of African leopard siblings and could not decide which of their fur prints was my favorite. The brother had the typical spotted print while the sister had the recessive gene causing melanism. I was able to see some of the spots coming through the blackness of her coat which was beautiful. 

Ultimately, I did have a magical experience at the zoo today. I have not always been a supporter of zoos since it is hard for me to agree with the entrapment of wild creatures. However, it is clear that the Fort Worth Zoo goes to great lengths to take care of their animals and even fund research for ecological conservation. Today I learned more about species from all over the world and had the privilege of seeing them so up close. The humidity and heat did start to get to me towards the end - nature reminding me that I am not accustomed to spending long periods of time outdoors like the wild animals are. I left the zoo reflecting on how the diverse animals I had just seen deserve the same care and protection as humans.