Glory Hole Baby

Frightening Zoo Experiences

1. I was around 10 years old and visiting Symbio Wildlife Park with my family (Dad, Stepmum, sister, step-sister, and step-brother). I had some crackers in my pocket and was reaching out to share the last one with a macaque. We were getting real close to making the exchange when a rival macaque jumped in and reached closer to me so I gave up on the first guy and gave my cracker to this new guy. Macaque number 1 doesn’t take this too well, starts screaming at me, and pulling on his penis. He is making eye contact as he pulls on his penis, stretching it to arms length, still screaming. I walk away, in shock. 

2. I was 18, travelling through Europe with my partner (at the time) and we decided to visit Zoologischer Garten Berlin. It was winter and a lot of the animals were housed in indoors enclosures where they were juxtaposed with 50s-esque tiles in hospital green or peachy colours, which was really odd in itself. At the chimpanzee enclosure I am confronted by a female chimpanzee sitting on these tiles in a pool of her own menstrual blood, rocking back and forth as though deeply troubled by her thoughts. I walk away, in shock.

Just to clarify:

I really love animals. 

I really love looking at animals. And touching animals.

I am conflicted in how I feel about preservation/conservation, breeding programs, and zoos. And primates.