When Animals Attack

Last fall we bought a membership to the Philadelphia Zoo (Motto: "America's Oldest Zoo, and Looks It"). The cost of a yearly membership was slightly more than the cost of taking our whole family for a single visit, so this was the trip that made our investment pay off.In additional to the obligatory gangs of geese and squirrels, the Philadelphia Zoo is also features free-roaming peacocks, many of whom enjoy cuddling, long walks on the beach, and getting caught in the rain. One male was looking for love in the prairie dog town, flashing his plumage at four or five uninterested ladies before perfecting his routine.
When we saw him later, neck entwined with one of the females, Ian and Sage had this exchange:

S: Look, he got married.
I: Well, we don't know if they're married yet.
S: Yeah, maybe they're still dating.

At the lion exhibit, everyone wanted to get their picture taken in front of a female who came right up to the glass. When Ian sat down in front of her, she suddenly reared up and started doing this:

At first it was startling (Ian got up pretty fast), but if you look at the expression in her eyes it makes you kind of sad. Zoos fill me with wonder and pity, seeing these wild, wondrous creatures who so obviously want to be free. The fact that they are sometimes locked up for their own survival makes their confinement palatable, but only just.

The best part of the trip was an indoor playhouse complete with giant-sized animal habitats. The kids had a ball, and were busy as--well, you know.