I have a huge ambivalence about zoos. Maybe it's because I live in Africa, and have the opportunity to see so many wonderful animals living in the wild, that I am so sensitised to the issue of man keeping wild animals for their own pleasure.
Then there are zoos like the Drakenstein Lion Park - a retirement home for captive-born lions. Situated just outside Cape Town, each lion has its own enclosure. Dodo, in picture, came from France. I'd love to know if this born-and-bred French lion likes the idea of being shipped back to Africa for his last days!
The Park owners cover the cost of keeping the lions by charging visitors to visit during the day. Given their nocturnal habits, this is about as good as you get in terms of views. But the really interesting visitor experience is when you spend a night in the camp in the middle of the park. You stay inside an electric-fenced secured enclosure and sleep in Safari tents. Around sunset the lions start roaring, and the night we stayed there as a 'sleep over' birthday party for Luke, the lions continued roaring all night. I've heard lions in the wild before, but the sheer volume of these animals all together was something I will never forget. There is something about the frequency of the roar that creates a vibration in your solar-plexus.
Originally started the project to improve my photography skills. Over a 2500 photos later it's become a personal diary. I post pictures that mark my...
I have a love hate relationship with the idea of zoos- I can see why they are important in terms of sanctuary (like the old lions home you mentioned) and species preservation but I would really rather see animals in the wild. Sadly in countries like Cambodia there are so few wild animals left you are unlikely to see much more than a sparrow...literally. You are incredibly lucky to have heard a wild lion roar!!
Nothing more beautiful than a lion's roar! I have a serious problem with zoos, but unfortunately these sanctuaries are necessary....at least he can live out his days under the African sun, where he belongs :-)
@cmt2812 We had 8 x 10-year old boys with us who all slept in a tent together. To say they were scared witless is an understatement! But there is something curiously melodic about a pride of lions roaring. They don't all roar at the same time - it's like they take turns and after I got over the sheer physical force of the noise I started to pick up how the sound travelled through the Park. Almost as if they are singing.
Hey Eleanor, the first time we "felt" a lion roar made all my hairs stand on end - a truly frightening experience especially as we were in the Serengeti with only a tent as protection. Needless to say we slept in the car that night!
Eleanor, I just enjoyed my lunch and traveled through your alphabet. What a wonderful gift you gave all of us.
We used to live about 2 blocks away from Zoo Atlanta and whenever those lions roared it sounded like an airplane taking off! Can't even begin to imagine sleeping in a tent near that.
Great capture of a lazy african day!!
We used to live about 2 blocks away from Zoo Atlanta and whenever those lions roared it sounded like an airplane taking off! Can't even begin to imagine sleeping in a tent near that.