Click here to subscribe to our blog
Every day at the El Paso Zoo and Botanical Gardens we are constantly reminded of the amazing and beautiful world we live in. The Bali Mynahs pictured above are just one example of the world of birds from the rainforests of the island of Bali. They live in our Asia Forest exhibit not far from two critically endangered species from Indonesia and Southeast Asia, Malayan tigers and Sumatran orangutans.
Malayan tiger by Rick LoBello
Sumatran orangutan and baby by Rick LoBello
All of the animals that live here are reminders of not only the incredible biodiversity of Planet Earth, but also of how the diversity of life on our planet is so often taken for granted, especially when we think about all the connections we have with the natural world.
On your next trip to the Zoo consider spending time immersing yourself with your surroundings while allowing your imagination to take you to their natural habitats. One way to let your imagination run wild is to plan a trip to the Zoo when we first open and there are few people walking around.
Try visiting on a hot summer day after a rain when the humidity is high to help you imagine that you are walking through an Indonesian rainforest. Take a pair of binoculars and some water, some headphones for your smart phone and wear a hat and sunscreen to protect you from the sun. When you arrive head straight for the Asia area of the Zoo and go first to either the tiger or orangutan exhibits. Find a quite spot where you can sit or lean against a railing and play the sounds of the Borneo rainforest on the YouTube video soundscape below. Close your eyes and imagine you are there for as long as you can then look up and watch for a tiger or orangutan. Do the same thing inside the Asia Forest Aviary. Share your experience with friends and family. Think about planning a trip to Southeast Asia someday to support ecotourism conservation efforts at a national park or wildlife reserve. Go online and learn more about the animals you are seeing then ask yourself how you can make a difference in helping to protect our most amazing world.
That my friends is what the Zoo is all about.
Rick LoBello, Education Curator since 2002
Cover rainforest image by Rhett Butler, Wikimedia Creative Commons
Conservation Education 