点评:As technology and urbanization increasingly separate people from animals, it seems that the general populace is developing more sympathy for the creatures they rarely see. As a result, zoos are becoming a victim of their own success. While we enjoy seeing the animals live and in person, we also wonder what the animals think of their limited domain. This tension can be particularly acute with older and smaller zoos.
Stone Zoo is over one hundred years old, seems to be surrounded by suburbia, and to have survived by luck and pluck. At least some of the larger animals are rescues who are given the opportunity to live out their lives in comfort while providing visitors the opportunity to see creatures they otherwise would never encounter. Some of the animals were ‘shy’ when we visited, but such is the risk of allowing them the opportunity for privacy. Being a smaller zoo it doesn’t take long to see basically everything they’ve got. But overall the cost is reasonable, the parking is ample, and the staff seemed attentive to the animals. Nice bonus, the parking area doubles as a solar panel array; it’s good to see an institution put their environmental resources where their mouth is.
翻译:随着科技和城市化日益将人与动物隔开,普通民众似乎对那些他们很少见到的生物产生了更多的同情。结果,动物园正成为其自身成功的牺牲品。虽然我们喜欢亲眼目睹动物的鲜活景象,但我们也想知道动物们如何看待它们有限的活动范围。这种矛盾在历史悠久、规模较小的动物园中尤为突出。
石头动物园已有一百多年的历史,似乎被郊区包围,靠运气和勇气幸存下来。至少有一些大型动物是被救助的,它们有机会舒适地度过余生,同时也为游客提供了观察其他动物的机会。我们参观时,有些动物很“害羞”,但允许它们拥有隐私是有风险的。作为一个规模较小的动物园,基本上很快就能看完所有动物。但总的来说,动物园的费用合理,停车位充足,工作人员似乎对动物很关心。额外的福利是,停车场还可以兼作太阳能电池板阵列;很高兴看到一个机构将其环境资源用在了行动上。