Elephants and tigers, oh my!

A happy kitty at Dubbo Zoo

I've never really liked zoos. The whole concept of locking wild animals up for the viewing pleasure of gawking tourists seemed rather inhumane to me. Unnatural. Surely the animals would be better off where they were, in their natural habitat, running free, doing what animals do.

Now before you go all conservationist on me, I've actually come to realise there is some value in giving mother nature a helping hand, especially where us old lumbering humans have gone and trashed the natural habitat. Did you know, for instance, there are only 500 Sumatran tigers left in the whole world? Forests and jungles have been razed for industry and expansion. No more tigers seems a shame, a much bigger shame than locking them up in a restricted pen.

Happy Sumatran kitty

On a recent visit to the Dubbo zoo, I had another revelation. These animals seemed really happy. After all, they had no predators to worry about, they had all their basic needs met - food, shelter, even a bit of lovin' from a well-sourced mate. What was there to be grumpy about? A small roaming territory seemed insignificant compared with the alternative of constant struggle to hunt for food, fend off attackers , subdue rivals, and generally live a life of survival and fear. The lesson for me was, 'Roll around in someone else's patch of grass before you call it a dud'. A zoo life could be a fabulous life.


Isn't it interesting that we are always judging other people's bit of grass? Just like me finding the zoo too restrictive and cruel at first, haven't you found yourself thinking things like, "he should get a better job," or "why do they live in that suburb?", or "she really needs a new boyfriend." I mean really, who we are to judge? How do we ever know what's best for someone else? Besides, if we spend all our time worrying about other people's patch of grass, who's minding ours?

Yes sirree, I'm quite happy minding my own little patch.


Now if people want help re-landscaping their patch, and ask for it, that's a whole different story. My job then as a loving friend, neighbour, or coach is to help them design a life that is totally cool for them. A sounding board is quite different to a sledgehammer.

Here's to peaceful grazing where the sun shines.