#zoological

For my birthday, I decided to visit a local zoological park to see their native rookery. While I am generally very skeptical of zoos, the Alligator Farm seemed education-centered, and is well-rated by conservationists and seasoned visitors alike, so I hoped for the best. What I found were depressed and heatsick animals in tiny, overstocked cages with minimal shelter and enrichment, displaying clear signs of nutrient deficiency, self-injury, and defensive behaviors and injuries.

The one (only) positive was accessibility. As an autistic wheelchair user, I am used to exclusion and overstimulation in public. However, there were ample clear plastic viewing areas, and the park was largely wheelchair-accessible; we were able to view every exhibit, and only had to backtrack once due to stairs with no ramp. There’s also a designated quiet area where visitors could sit and watch an enclosure of crocodilians. However, there were very few shaded areas throughout the park, so even with a gallon of ice water and a battery-powered fan, we had to rest frequently in order to not overheat.

That aside, my biggest concern, and the reason I am making this video, is the state of the animals. It was hard to enjoy the day when every captive animal I saw sent a pang through my heart. I am kicking myself for not recording the scuffed muzzles, jutting teeth, missing toes, stubbed tails, overstocked enclosures, etc. We started with the rookery, and spent enough time there that the storage capped and my phone overheated, just as I started recording the concerning aspects. I got what I could with my partner’s phone, but the video quality was low, and it died within a few minutes. I would like to revisit with the sole purpose of recording as much as possible, but admission for myself and my partner/caregiver is $60+ that we truly do not have (we almost had to cancel bday plans to pay bills). However, we plan on returning as soon as possible, and I’ll post whatever I find, good or bad (but probably bad).

I will likely post some of the pictures and videos from my visit that do not display neglect, namely those relating to the rookery and accessibility, with disclaimers. Many native FL bird species are currently at risk, so I want to share content that may inspire others to help them, or at the very least know of their existence. Also, I am proud of myself for leaving my house for something other than a doctor’s appointment, as it’s difficult and risky due to my health, and I’d like to share that.