Those who have friended me on Facebook or have added me to their Circles on Google+ have probably met Casper at some point or another. To the right, he rests on his cyclohexane chair, made from the molecular modelling set that arguably serves as Lego for chemistry students.
Casper was named after the subspecies
Panthera tigris virgata, more commonly known as the Caspian tiger. Though these tigers reportedly went extinct in the 1950s, recent evidence suggests that the Caspians were nearly genetically identical to today's [critically endangered] Siberian tigers, and the subspecies status has since been removed. This slap in the face was rather harsh for Casper, much akin to how you felt on August 24, 2006 when the IAU decided to demote Pluto's planet status, assuming you were named Pluto.
I actually haven't had Casper for too long, and arguably he's not much of a trip down memory lane since I don't usually let him get too far from me. Besides, this week's topic is "kids stuff that's still awesome"; Casper belongs in the circle of "kids stuff that's
beyond awesome". Instead, I'll talk about tigers in general, and other animals as well, which can all be seen at your local zoo.
I'm well aware that the zoo is not always a great place for animals. Poor living conditions, small artificial habitats, and unsuitable outdoor climates are challenges that all zoos face, assuming the animals can put through with the shock of people culture and escape the death of sheer boredom. Even in the best zoos, animals still need to face the monster that is the zoo visitor, specifically the one that won't stop tapping on the glass. Nevertheless, there are pluses for the animals as well - artificial breeding is usually a last resort to the dwindling few members of an endangered species - and zoos can even be a refuge for animals who have lived in even worse conditions or have been orphaned and would not be able to survive on their own.
I'm not sure if the pros outweigh the cons, but let's pass over the issue for the time being, because either way, I still find zoos a wonderful place to be, especially if you're a kid. There is little doubt that today's zoos are made for children. Working
in the Toronto Zoo for a summer kids (and consequently their parents) are the zoo's major clients - exhibits, displays, and shows are all geared towards younger audiences. A brief glimpse around the zoo and you'll see mobs of children from camps of all sorts, and rows of tiny kids sitting on those pricey Zoomobiles.
[*in, not
at, since I was technically with food services and dealing with the two most annoying creatures at the zoo: seagulls and little children who insist on feeding and attracting seagulls.]
For a kid, the zoo is an amazing place. Speaking for the Toronto Zoo, it's the closest you can get to travelling the world without leaving your hometown. Animals are often geographically gathered so that you can jump from continent to continent, and who doesn't enjoy watching animals? Especially since animals make up a significant part of elementary school education, forming the basics of vocabulary in earlier years and the pillars of biology in upper years, a trip to the zoo offers great exposure to the outside world. And it's lots of fun.
But zoos are still awesome for those past their monkey-see monkey-do prime. Despite the steep entry fees for the Toronto Zoo, it's still a great escape from the city at a relatively cheap cost. Plus, despite the many displays targeted towards children, there is always something new to discover at the zoo for people of all ages - a cool species you've never heard of, a new type of beautiful fish, or a new fact about an animal you've always been curious about.
I also find the zoo to be an inspirational place - not so much due to the sounds of the birds and the monkeys or the not-so-subtle smells of manure - but as a place to see the beauty of the animals around us. Diversity is a wonderful thing, and it can even be humbling as you notice that each species, if not subspecies, has its own story to tell. I always find myself asking lots of questions - why is that animal coloured that way, how are these two animals communicating with each other, what is this animal thinking right now with all these people observing?
I still thoroughly enjoy the zoo, very much. Even in my university years, I visit frequently enough, seeing the
Taipei Zoo last summer, passing by the Central Park Zoo in June, and exploring the Washington National Zoo just days ago. I don't think I'll tire of them anytime soon, and I believe that seeing all these other animals from all over the world is a rather uniquely human experience - for people of all ages.
