The closest we had to a zoo in my small, eastern Washington hometown was a park with a bird aviary holding dozens of species of birds, mostly pheasant and quail as well as swans, peacocks, and varieties of ducks. Even as a teenager I would visit the aviary, drop birdseed down the tubes into their pens and marvel at the variety of life.
For most of us, zoos are a place to spend a day observing exotic animals and enjoy time outdoors. We meet up for playdates and push our kids in strollers before they can form coherent long-term memories, because animals are a delight at any age. We marvel at nature. By spending that time marveling at the zoo, we’re encouraging respect for animals, understanding habitat, and seeing how our actions impact the world around us. Zoos are there to educate, rehabilitate, and promote conservation.
I’ve been a member of my local zoo since my first child was born. We go frequently enough to have favorite animals and know the shortcuts between them. We’ve celebrated the births of endangered animals and mourned the loss of elephants from Woodland Park Zoo.
The zoo is a gentle reminder that our actions have broader impacts, and we are part of something greater. Join us in celebrating animals, whether it’s an otter playing basketball for rehabilitation or the beatboxing of a happy lemur. If you can’t get to the animals, check out our DIY article on bringing the zoo to you.
Enjoy SEARCH Magazine’s Summer 2019 issue.
Heather Roulo/Editorial Director