Zoography

Thu 11 Jan 2007

Several chimpanzees sit on a wooden structure placed against a wall painted to look like a forest.

I don’t care for zoos, mostly because I wouldn’t want to live in one. But they are good for studying animals that wouldn’t otherwise live anywhere near your house.

A man and a womean, standing side-by-side, dressed for cold weather. He is wearing classes and has two white feathers stuck into the rims. Two children play in the background. Several large cages are aligned behind several barren trees.

Two adult chimpanzees and one juvenile sit at the stump of a tree-like structure. A sign reads 「たべものをあげないで」

Two of the chimpanzees were named Apple and Lemon. Fukunaga, who writes about these chimpanzees and whom I first met on Yakushima, showed us around. We went inside the compound, met one of the caretakers, and had a chance to feed an individual.

Cabbage, grapes, and assorted greens set out in blue baskets on a kitchen counter.

A chimpanzee behind the bars of a cell with a basket of fruit and vegetables arrayed in front

If you ever have the chance to chew on the pith of bamboo, I heartily recommend it: it’s so juicy and sweet.

A man's head protrudes from the cut-out face of a cartoon person warmly bundled, standing next to an anthropomorphosized polar bear, for children to have their picture taken in.

embassy opposition