Perspective about a walk in the zoo with children

We went to Brookfield zoo earlier this week and weather was gorgeous. We had such a good time. I especially like the zoo in the later afternoon when most people have left the park. I have been of the opinion for years that Brookfield needs to change its layout. The park has a lot more room to redesign to give it to the animals habitats that could be created for grazing animals like you see at the San Diego zoos or Animal Kingdom, Bush Gardens. Other exhibits could be given a little more space in the park would to create walking on a Safari. Interest would pick up because animals would be in view all the time. I think the upgrade would give the zoo new life an increase in attendance.

Zoos are always a lot of fun when you bring your grandchildren. Two of my grandkids are in preschool age. In light of the tragedy that happen in Cincinnati and not too long ago in San Francisco. Zoos give us a view of some pretty large animals. In the wild snakes, mosquitoes, elephants, hippos, bears, tigers, lions, crocodiles to name a few all over hundred people a year in the wild. There're fewer deaths with the animals in captivity, but they do happen. 

Why we were at Brookfield, we walked by the tiger exhibit and the tiger was walking and prowling, we can see this magnificent animal in motion. Most of our visits the big cat sleeps. But I looked at the moat and fence and wondered if the animal had significant enough motivation could the tiger bound over the barrier? I was glad I did not have any young teenagers taunting the tiger.

How high do the fences have to be? We may lose a beautiful view.

I am probably overprotective with my children and grandchildren, but they do run. The little suckers are really fast. At the zoo children explore as well. I have to admit I am more concerned about the human predator. While we were at the zoo I noticed a lot of school groups and I remembered my own experiences watching mentally challenged children exploring the zoo. I was glad I did not have that responsibility anymore. 

I noticed the fence was raised at the Cincinnati zoo since the gorilla was killed. As zoos are built they have to be built to keep people out of the exhibits and keep animals in. But there is a balance between barriers and ability to see the animals clearly. 

When we are at the zoo there is a difference between preschool children, elementary children, and teenagers. From all reports the parents of the child was in the gorilla area were good people. Something happened between their watchful eye and the child climbing over the fence. What happened may help all us be safer? The zoo has now built a little higher fence. Every zoo should take a walk-through and rethink each area for improvement.

Our kids exploring the world. They need to do it. We have withdrawn into a virtual world and our children do not know shortcuts through the neighborhood. They do not know their neighbors. They don't walk to school and experience the change of seasons where they have to dress appropriate to the weather. They don't know how to recognize danger for themselves. They're too protected, too pampered, they are not allowed imperfections, they may not even know what it means to overcome, to fight back. For a child to grow there has to be imagination, adventure, failure and struggle. We need both good and bad, sin and righteousness, sadness and laughter, sickness and health, life and death. For many of our children we avoid these things at all costs. Our kids need to learn what it is to save, how to do without, inventing their own games, in making do with around them. 

How will they survive the next depression? How can they cope with personal loss? How can they accept that they don't looked like a Hollywood star? How can they learn to play a game not being the fastest, or the strongest and never making it to the big show? 

Every time we go out the door there is a bit of uncertainty. I love to quote Bilbo Baggins as he says,“It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door,” he used to say. “You step into the Road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there is no telling where you might be swept off to.”

So zoos have to rethink four-year-olds as well as parents. But that child has a desire to explore their world. We have a bigger problem with our children with predators, drug peddlers, bullies where we need to take back our streets with parents careful eyes who for a time leave their own virtual escape. Keep walking