Dozing polar bear, Indianapolis Zoo

Saturday, October 06, 2007

Play

Reader RS sends me this amazing photographic sequence. Interspecies interactions like these -- the ones that don't involve predatory behavior -- demonstrate that life is more than the sum of its parts. There is more than eating, hunting, sleeping, and reproducing in the animal world. There is play, and in some cases, relationship. This is where spirit lies in the nonhuman world. Maybe that's the intangible something that touched so many of us with Sancho and Carolina, and what makes this sequence of images so breathtaking.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

How about dancing birds?

http://birdloversonly.blogspot.com/2007/09/may-i-have-this-dance.html

Also I left a post where I was talking about fish on a topic that really bothers me. People not showing their kids the proper way to treat animals. They buy a ferret or a bird as a toy and it's just life in hell for the animal. I think there needs to be some type of group or organization that teaches people that pets aren't toys. I remember this story that still haunts me to this day.


This lady at my old job knew I had ferrets (at the time now I have a toots) and she bought her young son 2 ferrets. He took one and threw it in the toilet and killed it. The other starved itself to death out of depression. And she said "yeah I was going to buy him another one but I got him a puppy instead."

Pets aren't toys. It's not like a remote controlled car, you can break it and mama will buy another one. It's just cruel. And pets aren't like handbags either. Oh thats cute I'll get one, then later get tired of it. This I think more than a lot of other things really frosts my patoot. At least if an animal is hunted it's a quick death, unless you're a harp seal. But to live a life in torment. Sorry so grim. But look at the happy birdy dancing! Weeee!


Toots

P.S. So glad I found your blog! Now I have somewhere to spend my time between calls. Great site!

Anonymous said...

Those are really cool photos. I wish I had a polor bear to invite over to exercise my dog. So far, I haven't found anything that even comes close to wearing her out.

Trailhead said...

Toots: That link was awesome.

Kristy: Time for her to have a playdate with Thomas.

kris said...

That was incredible - I was sitting here with my mouth open watching it. Very cool.

Anonymous said...

Amazing. You see photos of huge dogs with baby kittens, ducks caring for a gosling, and more. Who would've of thought of a polar bear and husky playing? We're often told animals have no feelings, don't give them human traits--they're just animals. Not so. Every animal I've ever had in my life--chickens to goats to cows to dogs and cats--love to play, grieve when they lose a friend, and love to be loved. Thanks for sharing TH.

PS. Glad you're still around!!

Hugs, Jeannie

Trailhead said...

JEANNIE!

It's so great to see you here!