How did you become interested in animals? Was it a family member, book, tv show or movie?
How did you become interested in Animals/Zoos?
- Thread starter LowlandGorilla4
- Start date
I became interested when my dad started started showing me episodes of "Planet Earth" when I was probably 4 or 5. I also went to the Lincoln park zoo and Shedd aquarium (I was born in Chicago, I moved when I was 6). After I started reading a bunch of books about animals I was (at my old school) known as "the animal expert". Good times
When my parrents brought me for the first time to our local zoo (they still say it was a mistake)
Salt Merchant
Well-Known Member
I watch a lot of animals documentary and read animal books since I was 6. My mother families are animal lovers, especially fish.
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
Fish keeping is culturally a popular hobby in Indonesia, right ?
Salt Merchant
Well-Known Member
Yes, people commonly keep bettas and flowerhorns. But the majority of Indonesian keep birds than fish. My uncle has a entire room for his birds.
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
Yes, I was going to say that perhaps I had confused Indonesia with Malaysia in terms of fish keeping. I know that for example in Bali and Java the tradition of keeping birds has had some pretty big consequences for their conservation in the wild.
A couple of questions:
What birds does your uncle keep (not judging him , just curious) ?
What is the cultural importance of bird keeping in Indonesia (are they appreciated for their song or colours , are they symbols of wealth or status etc) ?
Salt Merchant
Well-Known Member
White-rumped shama, Fischer's lovebird, greater green leafbird, a zosterops species, and yellow-vented bulbul
Mostly for their songs, some wealthy people keep South American parrots for their color.
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
Interesting to learn this , thanks for sharing !
No idea tbh. I guess it's in my gene
For me, it was the fact that I visited the zoo every week when I was young. It reall got me to love and respect nature and wildife.
A childhood inspiration was also David Attenburgh. An absolute legend, mark him down in history, his docomuntries are outstanding!
A childhood inspiration was also David Attenburgh. An absolute legend, mark him down in history, his docomuntries are outstanding!
Hard to tell as I remember being fond of wildlife since being capable of consciousness, but I believe Zoo Tycoon CD, a few public TV series such as Zoboomafoo and "Qual é, Bicho?", communicator Richard Rasmussen, my older zootechnician brother and the occasional real-life encounter all played a role in keeping my interest alive at least. Moreover, I was also very lucky to have the Internet as a source of information so early in my life.
Also, is this the kind of thread that should be in Zoo Cafe? Shoudn't it be in General Zoo Discussion for being zoo-related?
Also, is this the kind of thread that should be in Zoo Cafe? Shoudn't it be in General Zoo Discussion for being zoo-related?
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When I was in college, shortly after getting into photography, I was invited to photograph a friend's behind-the-scenes encounter with a koala at Los Angeles Zoo. Afterwards I explored the zoo on my own to finish up the roll of film. I saw two tigers sparring and that got me hooked on wild cats and zoos. (In recent years, however, my interest in zoos has lessened).
Apparently I've been hooked since I was a child... and would always get my mother to stay on the "animal page" of a large book she used to read to me every evening. My first birthday involved a trip to Bristol Zoo, and apparently I loved it (no surprise there).
ZooTripper365
Well-Known Member
Years ago, before I even joined nursery, my mum and aunt, who has a daughter around the same age as me who I'm really close to, bought a 4 person membership to Blackpool Zoo. The happiest memories of childhood were spent here on our almost weekly visits. As I grew a little older, I began visiting zoos with my family and keeping check in my head of what species I'd seen and what to look out for. I don't do this anymore as I've seen the animals and collections I'd hoped to visit but my enthusiasm for zoos, animals, the natural world and conservation just keeps growing 
Strathmorezoo
Well-Known Member
As for as I can remember ,it was watching Zoo Time ,with Desmond Morris and Animal Magic with Johnny Morris that made me want a career working with animals and zoos. The two always went together as far as I was concerned
Nile Hippo Expert
Well-Known Member
A plastic hippo figure toy in a bunch of plastic animals I got as a three-year-old. It was by far my favorite one and my love for Nile Hippos began. I still have that figure today.
I was raised in the wild by wolves.
Or….
In 1973 my Aunt gave me a plastic Ground Sloth and Mammoth, my great-grandfather gave me a Noah’s Ark, my grandmother took me to the Northern Maine State Fair where a traveling menagerie had a Leopard, and my grandfather slowed the car down while we watched a bull Moose on the side of the road on our way to the family campground in New Brunswick. What a year! It stuck with me.
Or….
In 1973 my Aunt gave me a plastic Ground Sloth and Mammoth, my great-grandfather gave me a Noah’s Ark, my grandmother took me to the Northern Maine State Fair where a traveling menagerie had a Leopard, and my grandfather slowed the car down while we watched a bull Moose on the side of the road on our way to the family campground in New Brunswick. What a year! It stuck with me.