July 14th was Doug's brother's birthday. For the occasion, we took him to the Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek, Michigan, something he's been wanting to do for some time.
I know that there are strong opinions regarding the confinement of animals in zoos for the pleasure of the viewing public, and I understand that. But I also appreciate the opportunity to see animals up close that I might never see in their natural habitat.
This post will just give a sampling of some of the things we saw that day.
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| This Llama was in a petting zoo area. |
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| Bald Eagles |
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| Purple Loosestrife growing in a swampy area |
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| A peacock seeking food dropped by diners in a picnic area |
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| An African Painted Dog |
There was a large area where several compatible species roamed freely. The next four pictures were shot from an overlook some distance from the animals.
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| Addax, also known as the white antelope and the screwhorn antelope |
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| Damara Zebra |
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| Grant's Zebra (on left) and Damara Zebra |
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| Grant's Zebra and young foal |
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| This flower caught my eye as we exited the zoo. |
Looks like a great time, Linda, and what beautiful animals! Thank you so much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI love a good zoo myself. I laughed the last time i went to one photographing a common bloom because it had a charm like the phlox you found.Great shots Linda!
ReplyDeleteAs I look at your photos all I can think is I need a camera that good, but then I'm reminded that I'm not a photographer. You are, however.
ReplyDeleteAnd all I can think when I see a photo of a llama is how beautiful yarn spun from their fur really is. The eagle reminds me of a once great nation.
Have a great week!
after multiple tries, i got some of the photos to load. :) i have been having dreadful connection issues this week... i like the african dog.
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures.I understand the part about keeping animals in confined areas,but I also know that when treated right these animals are quite happy and live good lives.
ReplyDeleteYou captured some excellent images here, Linda. I share that sentiment about zoos.. ambivalence, really. I am uncomfortable with the confinement.. the unnatural life. But I know zoos are an important place to learn about wildlife, and of course, to see animals we'd never otherwise get to see. For me, it's important to research the facility and determine its reputation. Certainly, these creatures look healthy. Thanks for sharing these beauties.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Linda. There were many more that we saw, but my photos of some of those didn't turn out so well.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Steve. No how dramatic the landscape around me, I still find beauty in the common. I know you do, too.
You're very kind, Toni. A good camera definitely helps even a mediocre photographer like me. I hope you find one that is just what you need. When I saw that llama, I wasn't thinking about the beautiful garments that might be created from his fur but, rather, the spit that he looked ready to send in my direction. :) Your comment about the eagles is so true. I miss our once-great nation.
Tex - I'm so sorry about the trouble you had loading this post and hope it won't happen in the future. Thanks for persisting in your efforts to read and comment. I like that African Painted Dog, too. Their coloring is unique. And they're big!
Thanks, Ruth. Truly, I understand both sides of the zoo issue. And this zoo wasn't one of the better ones, in my humble opinion. I thought Busch Gardens in Florida was really super. And we have an excellent zoo close to where I live. But not every community has the money or the expertise to create a really quality zoo.
Thanks, Hilary. As I mentioned in my comment to Ruth, I didn't feel that this zoo was top notch. But it's accessible to my wheelchair-bound brother-in-law, and the visit there was his birthday gift. He'd been talking about wanting to go there for several months. I think that most of these animals have been born and raised in captivity and would probably not be candidates for release in the wild. In a way, that makes seeing them confined a little easier.
I have always loved Zoos --and I'm not one to complain about the animals. They truly are usually always treated well--sometimes better than they would have been 'in the wild'.....But--I understand some of the reasons why people don't like seeing them 'pinned' up...
ReplyDeleteWe would get a chance to see some animals which we would never seen up close and personal. I think it's an education for us...
Thanks for sharing.
Hugs,
Betsy
Some zoos are definitely better than others in terms of the size of pens and ability to simulate natural habitat. I remember one from my childhood that troubled my sensitive young heart. Fort Wayne has a children's zoo that is quite nice.
DeleteNice photos, Linda. The Bald Eagles look great and the Painted Dog seems very unusual. I also love the photo with the purple Loosestrife!
ReplyDeleteI have no problem with zoos if they treat animals with regards to their needs and it has to be said that so much has been improved. Our local zoo in Pilsen has changed enormously in the last 30 years and every year it gets better and better.
As you probably know, Petra, the Bald Eagle is our national bird. Although they're becoming a more common sight than they used to be, it's still a thrill to see them in the wild. The purple loosestrife is actually an invasive plant, but it IS pretty. I have that photo as my desktop background at the moment.
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