going for a run

A way to keep in shape while I am out here with a lack of knowledge still to the city, I like to run around the zoo when it is closed. That way, nobody can notice how bad of a runner I am, I am not running people over  and nobody thinks that I am running away from a loose animal. Running in the after hours is very peaceful and is quite a different atmosphere than the open hours. Most of the animals are back in their back holdings while some are still on their outside display. I feel this really cool connection with all the animals around the whole zoo since they are beginning to recognize me. When I take my break, I always like to spare a few minutes by the big cats. 

As the sun begins to die down, all of the animals are entering their nocturnal behavior. As the peacocks are making their strange bird noises, the orangutans and other primates are howling. However, my favorite sound to hear when the voices of the night appear are from the big cats. As they are getting ready for their sleep, they like to stretch. While they stretch, they let out this big yawn that turns into a roar. They continue to roar for a few minutes and quiet down. Within a few minutes, they continue to roar again. There is something about these big cats' roar that does not get old to me, unlike some of the primates and peacocks. They were cute at first, but can get a bit annoying. 

Hearing the big cats roar is such an amazing feeling. It really does give you a sense of how big they are. I never get a chance to hear them roar in the day. They save it all for the night when no one is around. I feel really lucky to witness this. At this point, all I can do is savor the moments while I get to witness the very unique experience. Hopefully someday, I can learn some more and/or witness other cool things about the big cats.