In the past, I've always enjoyed my visits to zoos. This time, however, I felt my emotions slightly mixed. When I came upon the Colobus monkeys, I was very excited! I actually recognized them because I saw this species in Tanzania. They were raucous throughout our first night in the mountain. Thus, after seeing wildlife roaming around freely as they pleased in Tanzania, I couldn't help feeling sorry for these animals imprisoned behind the barb wired fences and glassed walls at the zoo. If you never seen animals in the wild, these prisoners would appear lifeless and unhappy in comparison. The Colobus monkey that I saw looked so sad. He wasn't even screaming. I really wanted to release him from his confined space and ship him back to Tanzania.
But of course in life, someone or something has to sacrifice. Without zoos, I would not be able to learn about some of the animals that I've never seen before and see them up close. At the San Diego Zoo, I saw a polar bear for the first time! Given the improbable chance that I would travel to a destination where I would see a polar bear in his own habitat, and the possibility that these bears might go extinct some day, I was extremely grateful for the zoo and its upkeep of this mammal. Seeing this beautiful white giant creature had truly made my day.If you're in San Diego, do check out the zoo!
