National Zoo: Not What You'd Think
Written: Jul 20 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Free, Clean, Great Scenery
Cons: Lack of Animal Species
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| tccarroll's Full Review: National Zoo |
I love zoos. If it weren't for zoos the average modern American wouldn't be able to experience the wonderful diversity of animal life on this planet. Admittedly, the history of zoos is quite dark, with small cubicle like cages standing in for homes for animals that would naturally roam forests, jungles, deserts and plains. Abuse was common and life expectancy was short to be kind.
The modern zoo is a remarkable change from that unflattering past. Natural habitats have replaced the cages. Educated biologists and zoologists have replaced zookeepers with sticks. Today zoos are contributing to the continuation of the species that they house, both in captivity and in the wild. One of the greatest contributors to this cause is the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. It was with this knowledge that I recently made a trip there, expecting to be blown away by the numbers and types of creatures that I would see there. Unfortunately, I saw neither.
In defense of the zoo, it is beautiful. The natural habitats are large and well taken care of. The animals appeared healthy. The grounds were well manicured and clean. One problem, though: no animals, or hardly any. The National Zoo, which represents the state-of-the-art in modern zoos in this country, our zoo, our showcase, hardly has animals at all. It was very shocking. There are more in numbers and variety here at the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium. Many habitats sat empty. Others were populated with the animals that were in the previous 5 habitats, especially in the small mammals house. How many times can I look at a pygmy marmoset and still be excited. Oh, sure. They're very, very cute. They look like little tiny old men with their wise faces and white hair on their heads. But come on! Lets have some variety. I also wonder why we need to see so many prairie dogs. By the third habitat of prairie dogs I was feeling a certain deja vu.
I'm not telling you not to go, but don't go expecting to have the ultimate zoo experience. You won't. I don't want to discount all the good they do for zoos in general and wildlife preservation. I just feel that they could try a little harder to represent their behind the scenes work to the public. It is a very nice place, but the public park is hardly worth being called the nation's zoo. The lack of animals is very disappointing.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
tccarroll
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Member: Teddy Carroll
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Reviews written: 30
Trusted by: 12 members
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