We went to the Zoo and I came away both saddened and occasionally uplifted, as normally happens when I go to a zoo. However, due to the sadness of the animals and overall state of the place, I have decided that I am not going back there. It is very close to us and I thought at first it would be great to go and sit with the animals and have a bit of relatively quiet time - if that is possible here!
However...
The zoo is very run down and although they have signs up that they are renovating, the only obvious reno. that I can see is that Coca Cola have donated hundreds of red chairs in the dozens of cafes that are dotted about there (only one of which was open)
The overall lack of funding in BA is nowhere more obvious than here. The old buildings that house the animals are amazing and full of character, representing a style pertinent to where the particular animal comes from - but they are a mess. Really run down and unloved.
As you can see - it really is in the middle of the city.
Beautiful ironwork
Sad gargoyles
Wasp nests as hair adornments
The animals are sad. Animals pacing back and forth manically - no sadder sight to be found than the chimps below - and the Macaws. Too small an enclosure with no vegetation, which was par for the course in most areas.
I could go on. However there were some delightful giraffes and a handsome lion who put on an amazing show of roaring just as we got to him. His girlfriend was in the enclosure opposite and they kept a sharp eye on each other all the time. The elephant was giving himself a dust bath - I hope he was not just trying to dig his way back to India. Elephants should not be on their own, they are family-loving animals
All in all a mixed visit with a lot of goats in the 'farm' section and not much else; these funny little local things ( Mara, a Patagonian rabbit about the size of a miniature poodle, with long back legs ) - see below - scurrying about everywhere - and an overall sense of loss and sadness
Reads OK on Wiki - but you would expect that and DM's photos probably do it more justice that it deserves - in its present state
However...
The zoo is very run down and although they have signs up that they are renovating, the only obvious reno. that I can see is that Coca Cola have donated hundreds of red chairs in the dozens of cafes that are dotted about there (only one of which was open)
The overall lack of funding in BA is nowhere more obvious than here. The old buildings that house the animals are amazing and full of character, representing a style pertinent to where the particular animal comes from - but they are a mess. Really run down and unloved.
As you can see - it really is in the middle of the city.
Beautiful ironwork
Sad gargoyles
Wasp nests as hair adornments
The animals are sad. Animals pacing back and forth manically - no sadder sight to be found than the chimps below - and the Macaws. Too small an enclosure with no vegetation, which was par for the course in most areas.
I could go on. However there were some delightful giraffes and a handsome lion who put on an amazing show of roaring just as we got to him. His girlfriend was in the enclosure opposite and they kept a sharp eye on each other all the time. The elephant was giving himself a dust bath - I hope he was not just trying to dig his way back to India. Elephants should not be on their own, they are family-loving animals
All in all a mixed visit with a lot of goats in the 'farm' section and not much else; these funny little local things ( Mara, a Patagonian rabbit about the size of a miniature poodle, with long back legs ) - see below - scurrying about everywhere - and an overall sense of loss and sadness
Reads OK on Wiki - but you would expect that and DM's photos probably do it more justice that it deserves - in its present state
