I love zoos. Where else can you go to see animals frolic, listen to children laugh, learn science, and also help conservation efforts world wide? I especially love zoos that take wildlife management and animal quality of life seriously. Today’s zoo have come a long way and are continuing to evolve. We like to visit as many as possible.

At the Milwaukee zoo, we were greeted by a flock of free range flamingos. Nearby, an owl family had spontaneously made the tall pines their home. Volunteers told us about the resident birds and it was clear they loved their winged neighbors. We loved the friendly greeting.

I was fascinated by the surgery center’s large observation windows. They made the behind the scenes activity accessible to the public. Today, the team was sedating an armadillo for a necessary blood draw. All manner of procedures happen here. An employee pointed out a milk carton that had been adapted for use with giraffe sedation. The perils and challenges of animal care are fascinating.

I won’t bore you with all the details of our trip to the zoo. I will simply say that when you sit eye to eye with another living creature, you learn things. When you listen to their breathing and you watch their routines, you connect in ways that are mutually meaningful. You begin to understand that we each affect the other. We only have this one beautiful world and we are called to stewardship. So we will continue to visit, enjoy, and support conservation efforts. I hope all these smiling children are going to grow up and do the same.