No Reservations

We have mixed feelings about animals in captivity, is it really a good idea to take these creatures away from their environment & dump them into a completely different climate - just for us humans to gawp at? We have lots of discussions about this subject. I understand why people want breeding programmes for some endangered species, but should it be up to us to mess with nature? What will happen to these animals if some kind of crisis happens - sudden peaking of oil, or an extreme weather disaster? Will it end up like the film "I am Legend" with wild animals roaming the streets of cities & towns - trying to survive...

For Hugo's birthday, we ended up going to an African Reserve. Like most kids, ours have always loved visiting zoos, farms, aquariums, etc. More often than not, we've come away feeling a little upset about some of the conditions the animals or fish are having to endure - small cages, compounds or tanks & it takes a lot to impress us!

One of our favourite places is: Beauval Zoo in the Loire region of France, their inhabitants have lots of space & seem to be well cared for, but the African Reserve near Narbonne (in my opinion) still has some way to go to get it right! 

The best bit was the fact that we didn't see any other visitors, we had the whole place to ourselves - the safari park & the zoo, probably because although the weather looked wonderful - there was a biting wind, which made the day very chilly!

Buffalo

Ostrich

Giraffes

Bear Cub

Bears

Lion

Lions, plus some other strange animal!

Water Buffalo & Zebras

Rhinos

Zebras

Camels

Elephant

Pelicans

Water Buffalo & Zebra

Flamingoes & Friends

More Flamingoes

Even more Flamingoes


Pelican

Hyena

Emu

Wallabies & a Peacock 

Hugo (being wished happy birthday by big Sis) & an Elephant!

The most wildest creatures in the park!


Kay :)



Comments

  1. Karin22 January 2011 at 09:51

    I was a little puzzled by the title of your blog for you clearly do have reservations. Then all became clear, you have reservations about reservations (wild life reserves). :-)

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

We are very much looking forward to reading your comment... Thank you!

Kay and Sime
xx

Popular posts from this blog

Diet And Drugs

Image
Some of you know about my fight with Graves Disease, an auto immune system disorder, which causes an overactive thyroid. Since I was diagnosed 7 years ago, I have made it my business to know everything I possibly could about the condition & this has probably saved my life. I have blood tests on a regular basis & in November last year, I was told that my T4 levels are normal & again in January the same.  My thyroid stimulating hormone was finally starting to work too, after 7 years of lying dormant, so I suggested I came off the anti thyroid drug & my GP's response was to continue for a while longer. A month ago, I rang my GP & suggested again that I come off the drug or at least halve it, as I was feeling so well  & was concerned about the drug pushing me into being under active. Again, she said to be patient & they would send for me when it's time for a blood test. I don't normally do as I'm told, but decided to stick with it a b...
Read more

Nettles

Image
Our garden yesterday. Tall Nettles TALL nettles cover up, as they have done These many springs, the rusty harrow, the plough Long worn out, and the roller made of stone: Only the elm butt tops the nettles now. This corner of the farmyard I like most: As well as any bloom upon a flower I like the dust on the nettles, never lost Except to prove the sweetness of a shower. ~ Edward Thomas ~ Every time we venture out to pick nettles, Sime always goes on about this poem! Anyway, thought I'd share with you the article I've written for next month's Parish Magazine... Our hedgerows are coming alive with food aplenty, but hardly anyone really notices the nettles that surround us, they grow quietly while using their juices to produce a medicine that can bring health. Anaemia, arthritis, rickets, tuberculosis, respiratory diseases, colds, catarrh and lymphatic problems can all benefit from this wonderful wild and free super food. Nettles are rich in ca...
Read more

Getting Back To basics

Image
We've had another very busy week, but we are very happy to be escaping for a few days. We decided that as it's our Silver Wedding Anniversary on Monday, we should do something a bit different... So we're going to be staying in a yurt on Bodmin Moor! It's going to be wonderful... No computer. No phone. No work. Just time to chill out, enjoy some moorland walks, eat, drink, be merry & have lots of fun!!! See you when we get back. Kay & Sime xx
Read more