PARLEY-VOUS!!!
Who doesn't love the zoo? OK Maria, I know you hate it because you'd have two children to look after, your daughter and husband BUT STILL!!!
Who doesn't love the zoo? OK Maria, I know you hate it because you'd have two children to look after, your daughter and husband BUT STILL!!!
Those who know me will remember my 20th birthday where I accomplished my Mumbai Darshan by taking in a few of the sights and sounds of my beloved city, ending it with eating two huge meals at McDonald’s. Pure bliss I tell you! Unfortunately I have no written record of this adventurous experience which I regret but I will be making that journey again so will keep you posted!
Celebrating 2009 – Year of the Gorilla, the Toronto Zoo blew me out of my mind with everything – the geographical locations from where the animals came, the habitats prepared for them to settle in, the exhibits, the information and the animals themselves were a sight to behold. I mean I do not know who had a longer jaw, me or the gorillas; my mouth was open half the time absorbing all the animals that live on Mother Earth.
*Fun fact – Did you know Gorillas are the third closest relative to humans after Bonobos and Chimpanzees?
Many animals at the Toronto Zoo are on the endangered animals list. Yet the treatment meted out to them is as close to VIP as you can get. Staff and volunteers are very close to these kindred spirits and the feeling is mutual. The Toronto Zoo celebrating 35 years since its inception has some fauna that have been with them for a very long time.
So where do I begin? I guess from the beginning of my journey – I left at 7 am. How long was the journey you ask? Bus + bus + subway + subway + bus = Toronto Zoo. About three hours. Since I was alone, the journey pleasant since I had my music, my camera and my eyes to observe all that Toronto
I got off the bus and the first thing I notice is a Canadian goose at the gate welcoming everyone by squawking and nipping at anyone who got too close. While observing her I moved on to stand in line to get a ticket. They gave me a map and instructions on what attractions the zoo had to offer. It brought back fond memories of school Esselworld trips and the map we’d get at the entrance. So I walk in and I see three lanes – left, straight and right – which way???
Finally, I decided to go straight since I heard a kid shout - ELEPHANT! *like I haven’t seen any before*
I will not give you a blow by blow account of every step I took at the zoo – but there were a couple of things I found fascinating and really touching at this humane and naturally peaceful place.
I noticed families, groups from schools and kindergarten kids, people with physical disabilities – all were welcome and treated with courtesy and respect. Then there were the animals and all this huge open land for them to walk around carefree – I mean they were in an enclosure but a huge one so as to not feel claustrophobic. I think the giraffe had a better joint than my place. He he he.
I also figured that I no longer feel the need to go to Australia or the North Pole – I mean I saw the kangaroos and the polar bear – the natives usually come to India
They also had a lovely animal show where a couple of them performed. The audience I have to say was amazing and uttered the OOOHHHHHSsssss and AAAHHHHHHHSssss in all the right places. They had ferrets, a falcon, a donkey, a parrot and even a skunk who did some cool tricks and there was this bird (don’t remember the name unfortunately) who did a small skit on recycling plastic. All in all it was a stellar performance.
Oh and I have to end with me saying I touched like a MILLION stingray! They were cute and had soft skin and just adorable. They had their stings cut, very similar it seems to how we cut our nails.
*Fun fact – If you cut the sting of the stingray – it takes about six months to grow back!
That was their special exhibit along with the sharks. There were four of the latter but only one was sporty enough to let us touch him/her. I was one of the lucky few – Touched it three times too and yet hear I am – alive to tell the tale… Chelsea – the Shark Toucher! :D
Hinky-dinky, parlez-vous!
p.s: I will be posting more videos of my trip to the zoo... keep checking!
