The Zoo Syndrome

Last week I got a chance to visit the Zurich Zoo. The reason being, it vouched as one of the most exotic tourist and local attraction of the city. I would say it does justify the hoopla and reputation that it enjoys.

It was a fine Saturday morning with a warm Sun and a cool breeze. I reached the Zoo at sharp 10:30 am, just moments after the Rainforest is opened for the viewing. I must say I was not expecting the kind of crowd that I saw there. I believe it was the only place in Zurich where I saw more people than on streets, malls and trams. But may be it had to do with the awesome spring season that just marked its beginning after a harsh winter.

Anyways I got a ticket, which was an expensive one even by Swiss standards and got into the Zoo premises. I had received a map for directions but I guess it didn't help me much being in German.

It's amazing how even little things being in a language that you don't understand can make you so uncomfortable. I believe it is only now I realize how much of a social animal a human being is! You snatch away the ease of his communication and everything in his character just falls apart.

So searching with the diagrams of animals on the map I started my detour. It was an amazing experience. I had just forgotten how it felt to be in a zoo. The walk with animals and green stretch of paths brought back a sense of wild life. The animals at the zoo were exotic. I had never imagined that animal's like- camels with wild fur, oxen with long horns, frogs of unimaginable colored skins, a peculiar pelican variety of bird, etc. even existed! The more I walked in the zoo the more I realized how oblivious I was to the nature's beauty. I felt happy and sad at the same time. Happy for being able to see such beautiful animals and appreciate the nature's marvel and Sad for being so engulfed with the pettiness of my existence that I fail to enjoy this feeling of pure joy and appreciation for the nature.

That day walking down the paths in the zoo, I probably realized for the first time how my life is a zoo of my caged freedom. How I deny myself the simple joy of being free, of being able to appreciate the diversity of nature, of being joyous in contentment. And all this is sacrificed for the mere sake of existing in terms of the pre defined stereotypes of the caged society model.

I guess there is a much bigger zoo out there in us, in all of us! The zoo of our pre-conceived notions, morals, ethics, stereotypes, cultural stigmas, etc., the list is never ending. And probably this zoo is much diverse and horrifying than the beautiful one that we see with animals.

The only question is if there is enough strength in us to break this prison of existence to explore a side that is never unraveled and mystique or, do we continue to enjoy this caged contentment of a stable existence.

I believe this question has always been subjective….and so would be the answer!