After seeing the three lions and Sarp the giant Anaconda (she is really impressive up close) at the Emperor Valley Zoo, my wife and I meandered along into aquarium section. Here, I found our Suriname Toad in such an interesting - and no doubt hilarious - position.
I'm glad I was able to capture this picture, because to me it said more than a thousand words. It represented what a fair amount our animals in the zoo may be feeling but can't express: "I'm trapped in this minute enclosure and I'm sad." Like the three lions. To us, it's amazement and entertaining to behold the three male adolescent lions. At what cost though?
There are three lions in an enclosure that's not nearly large enough and doesn't resemble their natural environment except a little. This is true for other zoo residents. I'm all for our zoo. I love it and I'd gladly go every week if I could. I recognise what the zoo and its workers do for education and conservation. I'm also aware that they're renovatiing.
However, I'm sad for many of the animals and I feel like we shouldn't accept new animals into our zoo unless we put proper animal enclosures (at least better ones for the larger animals) in place unless it's an emergency or rescue like with Sarp. I assume that the zoo authorities are doing their best to meet this goal. Kudos to them for the recent infrastructural changes and animal/plant additions. I will remain heart-broken for some of our animals.
That feeling of empathy I hereby label Suriname Toad Syndrome for what our little amphibious friend in the photograph represents - and I have it. I look forward to the cure.
Talib Mohammed
San Juan