Zoo Trip

Bryce and a colleague made plans to go to the zoo today (Saturday). They are part of a summer program for students to learn active observation skills through bird watching and identification. The zoo has birds so they thought it might be a good place to start.

When I realized that I was going to be stuck at home on a weekend morning doing the same thing I do every other day of the week I did the unthinkable and invited myself along! Two academics on a work related outing wouldn’t mind the company of a bored mother and four busy kids, right?

The zoo is about what you would expect from the second biggest city in Bangladesh. Animals lounged in the shade or paced their concrete floor in repetitive unhurried motion. We were separated from the animals by a thick wire mesh and, for the more dangerous animals (lions and tigers and bears - oh my), there were some bamboo fences lashed with wire.

In all reality we could have touched most of the animals if we had wanted to. But, we didn't really want to. They smelled strongly of urine and didn't have much to do besides roll around in dust all day.

Titus and Maggie made use of the bird watching binoculars to get some close up views. Their comments on the animals centered on a dismal theme.

"The alligator is dead. No wonder... he doesn't have any water."

"The monkey is dead. Oh, no he's not. I can see him breathing. He must be dying."

"Aren't snakes supposed to move. It must be dead too."

"The birds are the only lively thing in this zoo. No wonder Papa wants his students to watch them.

Unfortunately, Lena didn't seem to be able to see most of the animals. In her defense, they were mostly very still, away from us observers, and hidden in shade. She spent most of her time wondering why I wouldn't let go of her hand and let her try to climb the fence by the Asiatic Black Bear Cage.

Enzo was definitely the most impressed. Maybe he's the most settled culturally because the wonder in his eyes seeing a bear prowl around just a few feet away was identical that of the tiny Bangladeshis around us.

We went to the zoo to observe the animals but with inevitable irony we ended up being observed ourselves. We were followed the whole time we were there and any time we stopped the crowd grew and cell phone cameras started clicking. Children and adults all watched us with unembarrassed persistence. I felt like we should be behind a cage with a label (Wild Americans, very rare).

I might have lost my cool once when a father with two kids tried to take some sneaky shots of me and the babies from behind. "No!" I said, rather loudly. "We're not animals at the zoo. Take pictures of the animals." He was very apologetic. I feel bad I wasn't more cool.

The entire tour cost 15 Taka (about 20 cents). It was worth every penny. At least we can say we saw a Bengal Tiger while we were in Bangladesh.

(note: picture is not mine. Our camera is still non-functioning and none of the animals had anything green near them).