Monday 22 August 2011

antwerp zoo


No fashion today, no interiors, only the animals in the Antwerp Zoo (the website is only available in Dutch and French but Wikipedia has a fine page in English). I'll admit it; I've got very mixed emotions when it comes to zoos and often I feel like a complete idiot in a zoo, with a camera in my hand photographing caged animals. Instead of feeling guilty I try to focus on the entertainment and educational value for the children, just the look on their faces, their genuine happiness, lessens the guilt. I know the animals in the Antwerp Zoo are treated well and the zoo supports wildlife preservation, so I guess we could say that I'm comfortable with its ethics.

The Antwerp Zoo has a long history; it's the oldest in the world, established in the year of 1843. We took our friends to see it last Saturday. What's unique about it is that it's located in the city centre, right next to the Central Train Station. There are about 6000 animals, a little less than 1000 species – just imagine the fun if all the animals would free themselves! wink My favourite animals in the zoo are the giraffe, okapi and hippopotamus. I had never seen these animals before moving to Antwerp.

Life is back to normal after wonderful days spent with our friends who went back to Iceland yesterday. Today I'm busy with cleaning and doing laundry. I'm so behind on my blog visits so I'll need some time to catch up. I hope you're all enjoying a fine Monday!

photo credit: Lisa Hjalt

15 comments:

  1. Great photos, the giraffe looks so cute :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lovely images...interesting to see the Arabic archway in the first photo. I love that big old lizard thing!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lisa, these photo's are so beautiful! And some so funny, haha those animals don't have to do anything to look funny. I've been to that Zoo once too, don't remember much of it though... Glad you had such a great time with your friends!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Lovely post! I love how you write these beautiful posts on our city. It's also really interesting to see it through the eyes of a 'foreigner'.

    Love, E.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I do not like knowing that animals live in captivity but I also enjoy when I go to the zoo. It is fantastic imagining that these animals live in the city center! The pics are so beautiful and that "hipo" seems made of cardboard! So cute. Have a nice Monday, Lisa.

    ReplyDelete
  6. i often fall into anxiety with questions over zoos. but i've learnt it's all about each individual zoo and their work. this looks like a good one. beautiful creatures.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Lisa, I have mixed feelings myself when in comes to zoos. But I know there are cities which have zoos that treat the animals very well and offer good conditions, like Berlin for example. The Berlin Zoo is also located in the city center in the huge park Tiergarten and the hotel we stayed in was right next to the park and every morning we had a monkeys' concert. It was so much fun. Hope you're having a beautiful day! xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  8. I have been one time to the zoo in the last 15 years and I am not tempted to ever go back. To see polar bears lie panting with their tongues out in Madrid in 45 degrees just took the fun out of it (or what was left) once and for all.

    That being said I remember being here in Norway with my parents when I was a kid and that was a blast! We got to say hello to a monkey named Julius. Good times :)

    Maybe if I ever have kids I'll go back into one, for their sake as well, you never know. Until then - hell no!

    Hugs and a happy new week to you,
    Signe

    ReplyDelete
  9. i love animals and sometimes when I go to the Zoo i imagine how it would be to set them free...
    uhm, i guess not such a good idea

    ReplyDelete
  10. I so agree with you, Lisa! I have mixed feeling regarding zoos as well but seeing the happiness and joy it brings to children's faces makes it a bit more tolerable. Especially hearing that they treat the animals well.

    ReplyDelete
  11. You're right Lisa; somehow if you focus on the children and how much they enjoy looking at the animals and how much they're learning it feels better. We went to the Zoo here in Melbourne on Sunday too and I always feel a bit sad when I see the majestic big bear in his enclosure all by himself looking utterly bored and lonely!

    These are lovely photos... I particularly like the first one though I don't know what kind of animal it is (against the very moroccan looking door) - gorgeous.

    Helen

    ReplyDelete
  12. i know what you mean about zoos. but you're right, at least they support wildlife preservation. i think that giraffe is my favorite.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I think I need a baby penguin. They are adorable!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I have mixed feelings about zoos as well, but I still love to go. great photos!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Des photos MAGNIFIQUES !!!!
    Nedj

    ReplyDelete

Your comment appears on the blog after approval. Comments with commercial links are reported as spam.