I was at the zoo today. The last zoo I visited was in Budapest and the animals there were sad specimens that looked bored. I found the whole experience depressing. Today was different.
Today I went to the Lakeland wildlife park at Dalton in Furness. The animals looked very healthy and were housed in huge enclosures. The Rhinos had the space to run about having frisky mock fights.The lions were fed with fresh meat hung on the top of high telegraph like poles so they had to climb the poles before they could eat. It was exciting to see the lions climb these poles in a couple of athletic leaps. Makes you appreciate the power of nature. It is also a warning that if you are being chased by a lion not to try to escape by climbing a tree!
If wild animals have to be kept in captivity then they deserve to be treated with respect. They have a natural dignity which is only visible when their welfare and environment let them thrive.
It made me think about humans who live in situations where their freedom is restricted. Seeing the fences surrounding the animals and the resulting limits to their freedom reminded me of the fences erected to restrict the freedom of other human beings. The Berlin wall has now gone but new walls in other places divide people from kith and kin and cut people off from their land and livelihoods. Perhaps the most notable example today is the wall between Israel - Palestine. Like the fence between me and the lion, that wall will save lives but there is the loss of freedom for so many worth the immense cost? Perhaps the big question when looking at the Israel/Palestine wall is on which side are the nice familes and which side has the wild animals?!
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