Glimpse into the wild

A normal Thursday night, I was playing video games in my room when my brother suddenly approached me and asked if I had any plans tomorrow. I replied ' No, why? '. He stated ' Then we're going to the zoo tomorrow '. He also said we had to take our cousin brother with us. At first i thought to myself if I should go because I find my cousin brother kind of annoying. However i agreed anyway because who doesn't want a chance to see exotic creatures every once in a while.

We arrived to the Mirpur zoo a little early because we wanted to offer the jum'mah prayer in the area and it would leave us enough time to explore the entire zoo. After praying, we grabbed a few snacks and entered. We were greeted by a herd of spotted deer who then got distracted and busied by their afternoon meal.

A few steps in and we could hear the beautiful symphony of nature: chirping birds, chattering monkeys and several other animal cries. Our first stop was in front of large cages, I was bit confused  in the beginning as i couldn't see any animals inside until I looked up and was left spellbound by the vibrant colorful birds that flitted overhead while butterflies danced among the lush greenery. 

chonky monkey

Our next stop was at the primate exhibit, mischievous monkeys swinging from branch to branch. I couldn't help but marvel at their intelligence as they extended their hands for peanuts after drawing laughter from the crowds with their charades. Out of these monkeys one really stood out, I believe his size alone speaks on why he stood out. My brother commented ' that is one chonky monkey '. After having a good five minute of laughter we moved on from these goofy monkeys.

 

Next, we ventured onto the Equus family, which basically consists of horses and it's different variants. The main attraction being the zebras and giraffe. I've always overlooked and underestimated the beauty of zebras but once I examined them up close it really amazed me how mesmerizing their symmetrical pattern truly is. 

The graceful necks of the gentle giants also really captivated me for longer than I would care to admit. It even felt like one of these giants was looking directly at me for food. The zookeeper was kind enough to feed these giants up close so it would give us a better view and I definitely regret not thanking him for letting us so close to this beast.

We moved onto a reptile house, one my cousin and I were not to keen on visiting, yet we were still offered a different kind of thrill, the slithery snakes with their eerie beauty and prehistoric-looking crocodiles. We didn't really bother taking pictures nor staying in that section for long because the snakes were really giving us and especially my cousin the ' heebie jeebies '. The scales on the crocodiles, however, really convinced me that they were definitely the inspiration for Godzilla.

We also came across the hippos, weighing more than car yet dancing gracefully through the water like a dancer although it was for a short while. They lounged and submerged into the water body that was connected to a larger lake to beat the sun that was directly above our heads. I always thought and even at first glance found the hippos to be intimidating with their massive bodies and formidable tusks but their social interactions and forming close-knit family groups really changed my mind about these giants of the water.

 

Saving the best for last, we finally made our way to the beasts that sit on top of the food chain.

The mighty king of the jungle and his queen, however the king seemed to be too tired to move after his afternoon feast while the lioness was grooming herself before taking her nap.

And finally our national animal, the Royal Bengal tiger, sitting with its striking orange coat adorned with dark stripes exuding an air of mystery and mystique. I was transfixed by its limited but dominant movement, displaying an absolute embodiment of strength and courage. Despite having a fearsome reputation, the Bengal tiger is without a doubt a symbol of beauty and resilience. Not to mention, kind of cute.

There was another apex predator that really was the highlight of my trip, it was the black bear with its imposing stature. Out of all the beasts, the black bear's powerful presence and his confidence of being so close to the cage had certainly evoked a sense of respect. What mostly fascinates me about the bears is their omnivorous nature. These adept hunters can go from foraging berries and nuts to hunting fishes and small mammals, their dietary flexibility allows them to thrive on diverse ecosystems ranging from dense forests to mountainous terrains, even places that may lack certain type of food sources.

As our trip ended and we were heading back towards the exit, I was hit again by a sense of wonder and admiration for animals, each having their specific roles and adaptations for their own habitat. Each of them, a testament of beauty and resilience of nature, yes even the snakes. Even though I felt a sense guilt for enjoying animals in captivity, I realized that some of these animals have challenges that they can no longer keep up with, such as habitat loss, poaching, human-wildlife conflict. So these conservation methods even thought seemingly unethical to some may bring a long-time survival for these animals and their ecosystems.