Through the fence, the lion humbly looks at the people looking back at him.
There is nowhere for him to run, no one for him to play with, and nothing for him to do.

My trip to Henry Vilas Zoo was chilly and cloudy.
My observations and conclusions were sobering and eye-opening.

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 Artificial Surroundings

The flamingos pictured are kept in an indoor facility.  The animals are used to warm climates that can only be provided in Madison, WI by being kept in an artificially made environments.

The lonely polar bear explores the snow-less environment that has been provided for him.
Although chilly, Madison, WI cannot provide the environment that he is accustomed to.

Indoor Captivity

Like the flamingos previously mentioned, the giraffes pictured to the left must be kept indoors because the temperatures during springtime in Madison, WI are not adequate for giraffes to be kept outdoors.  The zookeepers tried to mask the artificially-made environment by painting a scenic horizon on the wall.  While artistic, the painting is not realistic and still leaves nowhere for the giraffes to roam.

The  buffalo curiously approaches the people making a spectacle out of him.
There is no green grass for him to graze in.  
He is kept fenced in.  His life is limited.

The monkey poses for the camera as though he was expecting to be watched and observed.
This has become his way of life.

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Conclusions and Reflection

While a day at the zoo is an enjoyable activity to do with family and friends, I was deeply saddened after looking at the zoo from this angle.  The artificial environments, walls of fencing trapping the animals, and crowds of people making spectacles out of the animals is disheartening.  While the zoo is humane in the sense that it helps endangered animals and keeps them safe and alive, it is also inhumane in the sense that it traps animals in cages and fenced in areas to be observed and taken photos of.  After reading about the journeys of the numerous fictional animals in our texts throughout the semester, it is unsettling to know that these animals won't have the opportunities for adventure.

A Spectacle

Seen on the left-hand side of the picture, spectators look into the shelter as the orangutans attempt to have some privacy by burying their bodies in each other's. The animals cannot share any intimate moments without being gawked at by humans.