THE EDITOR, Sir:
WHY IS it that over and over, over the years and years, the poor Hope Zoo has to still be in such a terrible state? Can it be that hard to maintain a small, simple zoo?
I went with my family on Easter Sunday, and the first turn-off did not come from any caged animal, but from the caged human in the receptionist cubicle. Her greeting to us without preamble was "You need to speak to me, Sir!", this addressed to my grandson as he was wondering where to pay. No welcome, no smiling face, no surprises. I wondered whether this was the usual greeting for all visitors, or she just saved that one for us exclusively.
The animals that were there were in clean condition and seemed comfortable in their enclosures.
They also appeared well fed and healthy. Congrats to Orlando, Karlene and the team. However, the grounds themselves were in an absolutely dreadful and nasty state, with garbage everywhere.
Why can the grounds not be kept clear of trash? Does no one have a rake? Neither was anyone around to provide information or to keep the human animals from molesting the other animals.
What has happened to all the great plans for Hope Zoo and all the announcements and promises by various persons/groups? I posed this question to my friend, the mentally challenged monkey, before we left, but he just bared his teeth in a disbelieving grin and ran off.
I am, etc.,
SADAN TAYAD
