The chimpanzee's hairy arm stretched w-a-a-a-y out for the floating African tulip, whose splashy tropical colors were barely out of reach. I was at the world-famous San Diego Zoo. The designers of this zoo, in their infinite wisdom, decided that since primates are fearful of water, no cages were needed to keep them trapped ... just a moat of water surrounding their little island would imprison them. So ... back to that long, hairy arm. The boy chimpanzee plucked that floating tropical flower out of the water and flirtatiously handed it to what I decided was his girlfriend. The crowd that had gathered around was delighted. Their voices collected into one long "aaaahhh." There was even some Texan that could be heard over the crowd declaring, "Aw, ain't that just sweet, y'all?"
All the while I was wondering what my problem was! While everyone else stood by and admired this whole "sweet situation," I was horrified by it! You see, I am an animal lover, and the thought of caging animals (no matter how cleverly "uncaged" and happy those San Diego Zoo geniuses try to make their imprisoned animals appear) goes against my grain. I can't help but imagine how we would feel being in their situation.
I will never forget that day at the zoo, for it was at that very moment I decided when I grow up I will become an animal advocate. I will be ecstatic some day when I hear this statement said by one and all: "Zoo? What's that?"
All the while I was wondering what my problem was! While everyone else stood by and admired this whole "sweet situation," I was horrified by it! You see, I am an animal lover, and the thought of caging animals (no matter how cleverly "uncaged" and happy those San Diego Zoo geniuses try to make their imprisoned animals appear) goes against my grain. I can't help but imagine how we would feel being in their situation.
I will never forget that day at the zoo, for it was at that very moment I decided when I grow up I will become an animal advocate. I will be ecstatic some day when I hear this statement said by one and all: "Zoo? What's that?"