BY ANNA GEANNOPOULOS
I love zoos. This is a fact that I never remember until I am on my hands and knees clearly losing a staring competition with an ocelot. Usually, I have to be coerced into even going into a zoo, which is sad because the zoo combines some of my favorite activities.
First of all, zoos are basically large, well-designed and beautiful parks that you can spend hours walking through. Second, not only are there a large variety of animals to look at, but also there are signs and placards of information on these animals. If that doesn’t answer your questions there are also friendly and passionate animal keepers close by to fill in the gaps.
The best part about going to the zoo for me personally is the ability to feel safe around animals that give me chills: lions, tigers, giant gorillas, oh my. Even the never-ending swarm of children don’t bother me. Every time I see their eyes light up from seeing a polar bear for the first time, it reminds me of my first encounter.
SCAD’s Savannah campus doesn’t have the luxury of having a zoo in their city. But, the Jacksonville Zoo is merely an hour and 45 minutes away by car. And it is more than just your typical zoo. There is a splash playground, three different specialized gardens and animal encounters including: giraffe feeding, stingray petting, Lorikeet feeding and pygmy goat grooming.
Maybe animals aren’t your thing, or maybe you feel unbearable sadness walking freely past a caged animal. I’m highly under-qualified to talk about zoo ethics. One thing I do know is that there are some animals who would not be alive anymore if it weren’t for zoos and a lot more that I hope I would never see tête-à-tête in the wild.
Jacksonville Zoo
370 Zoo Parkway
Jacksonville, Fl. 32218
Admission: $11.95
Hours: Daily 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
If a trip to Jacksonville isn’t in your time/budget range, try the closer but no less fabulous Oatland Island Wildlife Center.
Oatland Island
711 Sandtown Road
Savannah, Ga. 31410
Admission: $5, $3 for students
Hours: Daily 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
