The Big Guys

I love animals but prefer they be allowed to stay in their natural habits. I dislike circuses because of horror stories I've heard about the way the animals are housed, treated, and made to perform for humans. Therefore zoos are only on my list of places to visit.......occasionally.

The magnificent San Diego Zoo was a one time treat a few years ago. The National Zoo in Washington, D.C. I've visited a few times as I lived in that city in the '60's. The North Carolina Zoo is small compared to the first two and this was my third visit in the 30 years I've lived in this great state.

The visit this week was at the request of friends - we live equidistant from the zoo so it was also a chance to socialize. Sharing these photos with you........of the animals, not our friends!

Below is Wilhelm, known as Willy. He and his mate, she was not in the water on this day, are one of the positive zoo stories. This pair was actually rescued from a Mexican traveling circus. While performing in Puerto Rico it was discovered how abominably they were being housed (in tiny cages), underfed (they were extremely thin almost to the point of starved), and generally mistreated. The pair were taken from the circus and brought here to the NC Zoo where they are gradually gaining weight and of course now have a much more comfortable home where they can move about and swim.

This dear bear Willy put on quite a show for us - tossing balls with his head, lifting a huge plastic bucket on to a raft, swimming with a canvas strap, then springing out of the water and waiting for applause. It was obvious he still enjoyed performing - thank goodness it's under much better circumstances.



Unfortunately our plans to eat in 'Tuscany' following the zoo visit didn't work out as the restaurant only serves dinner Thursday, Friday and Saturday! We did meet the owner who allowed us inside to look around.........small, pretty, homey and definitely on the list when next in town later in the week. Instead we went to 'Capri', not as nice but still Italy, and who can go wrong with anything Italian!