IJ sent her first ever email this week. She was keen to tell me her school had been closed for the day so she’d visited a local farm where she’s fed some goats by hand. She was clearly excited by all the animals she had seen.
So it seemed best not to mention the Asian elephants I’d seen that day, or anything else at Jerusalem Biblical Zoo, because she would have loved it there. It was the one time I really wished I had her here in Israel with me.
The divisions in Israel are obvious and everywhere yet the zoo is the one place where everyone can meet together, regardless of religion or political affiliation, to enjoy some uncomplicated leisure time.
Everywhere we have visited during our past five days in Israel we have been made to feel incredibly welcome and received a highly personalised service. An excellent example is the zoo where we were taken behind the scenes of the Asian elephant enclosure and given the rare opportunity to meet and feed the animals by hand.
One of the zoo’s commitments is to preserving rare animals and endangered species. Their work with Asian elephants – listed as endangered since 1986 – is just one example of this. It also undertakes a range of educational activities, is active in the field of research and conservation and also offers animal assisted therapy for children with special needs.
Its range of exhibits is extensive. We saw a small selection of what the zoo has to offer during our visit.
The more I see of Israel and the more I learn about the political and religious differences that exist here, the more obvious it becomes that places like Jerusalem Biblical Zoo - accessible to all - are very rare yet play an incredibly important role in bringing families and communities together which would otherwise remain separated.
It's possibly the only zoo in the world that offers so much more than the chance to feed the elephants.
This trips sounds amazing. I have always been too much of a chicken to go to Israel - the unrest in the region is worrying me a lot.
Posted by: Metropolitan Mum | July 02, 2011 at 10:10 PM
We have a yearly season ticket to this zoo and we both love it. We rush round to see the bears, the lions and tigers and the elephants, but it is important to remember that they do so much more important work than just show off animals. Thisis a great post - thanks Rosie.
Btw - in the summer holidays they run three sessions of 2-week summer day-camps for children where they get to help take care of the animals and learn about them, do arts and crafts on animal themes, etc... as well as go swimming and have other fun activities.
Posted by: Midlife Singlemum | July 02, 2011 at 10:34 PM
Such an interesting post Rosie. We are certainly learning a greta deal through your trip.
Posted by: jfb57 | July 03, 2011 at 10:34 AM
That top picture is stunning, Rosie. And what an amazing adventure!
Posted by: English Mum | July 03, 2011 at 09:41 PM
It must have been very humbling to be that close Rosie. My two were both at school on that day but how cool that IJ fed the goats. M managed it last time too and was soooo proud of herself. Now we just need to get you to have a go. ;D
Posted by: Jo Beaufoix | July 05, 2011 at 11:09 PM