Even as the day was beginning your conversation alone was constantly interrupted by young nine year old Hank. He was to say the least a powerhouse of energy while being no young and foolish. The kid was getting into every nook and cranny while driving down to the Zoo. He had his hands everywhere making a muddy screen of the backwindow inside your nice old car.
Now on the tram he gets his index finger stuck in a slender crack running ceiling to floor as the vehicle move a group past the other parking lots to drop us off at the first exhibit.
That wild sceen done we exit the tram as our driver gives a real scowl to Hank and even you. If not for you having some wax lip balm to grease the small finger he might have become a regular part of the Zoo's tram car.
Andria tries to keep a tight grip on her young son but we are not inside the first exhibit and he's getting into things again. This time he's climbing the fence and looking, pointing, and screaming his little mind about all the animals in our view.
Below us and then seated on rocky ledges are a family of Gorilla. The naked bodies support Hank's young eyes as he makes remarks how one of the young females below has bazooms like his Momma.
Andria gives Tim a naturally sturn look as people standing around break into laughter. You try to muffle a smile as Tim looks away from his wife knowing he's been a bad boy too.
It is then you notice the bronze plate bolted to the side post holding up those well deserved steel bars keeping the wild ones from you the tame.
African Silverback Gorilla
Young Male he is the father of several.
Donated by: Doctor U. Thule
May 2001
Again you see the name of the man which your nieghbors went to work for and never wrote or called. This must be a man of great wealth you think as then Tim seeing you read the notice shakes his head.
Walking on your attention is turned by the roaring, snorting sounds of a swimming herd. Hippopotamus, the huge creatures lumber about their bodies having rolls of fat and soft muscles. The creatures play in the water making mouthing actions as one of them stands out as if really enjoying the playtime.
Again you spot another broze plate bolted to a security post. As before the note says one of the Hippos came from the U. Thule Estate, and with the generous donation from Mr. James Crandal. It mentions that the Zoo's prize male Hippopotamus arrived September 2001.
You are about to walk on when Hank was standing on the second rail of a three high railing keeping the onlookers from falling into the Hippo 's swim tank. It was Adria's scream which alert all around as Hanks feet was the last you saw as he fell over the fence.
A small splash Hank made as the herd of Hippos ddashed from the beach to the water. People screamed and an alarm sounded sending men to the spot. You watch as the men prepare to net and scoop the choking child from the water now filled with large and maybe hungry Hippos.
Suddenly this big Hippo swins under the boy and comes up holding him on its back and away from the other Hippos. He swims to the beach and dropping to his foreknees lets the child slide off his wet gray hide.
The crowd stands silent, you as they are in true wonder as the massive Hippo stands off those willing to toy or harm the boy. He bellows a roar keeping the others away and then like a guardian father he pushes Hank closer to the outside fence where the security men net him out of harms way.
Applause rings out as the boy is safe and Andria hugs her kid alone with Tim. You snap a picture of the reunion as onlookers pat Tim and Andria in a friendly gesture.
"Great work Jim !" yells one of the security men as if he was rewarding the Hippo below.
You asked the man, "does this happen often?"
He tells you that since the big male Hippo came they have had at least one foolish person fall into the tank every month or so. Jim, the large male scoops them up and brings the person to safety as if it understands and actually cares for people in some odd bestial way. You stand there while Hank is dried off and Andria continues to shake from fear.
The Hippo now saunters back to his herd and plowing into the water mixes with the other Hippo's in a round of hard and heavy play.