New Yorker Paul Simon wrote, “Someone told me it’s all happening at the zoo. I do believe it; I do believe it’s true.” Naturally though, we wanted to find out for ourselves. So on a crisp November day, following a picnic lunch at the IRC New Roots Drew Gardens,refugees and IRC staff ventured a few blocks north to the Bronx Zoo.
Unfolding the Zoo map reveals that just off the Bronx River Parkway, rests a globetrotter’s menagerie. While the “CongoGorilla Forest” and the “Himalayan Highlands” beckon some visitors, others surely hear the call of “Wild Asia” and “African Plains.” With so much to explore, it seemed best to survey the group to see where the day would take us. Bears, tigers and snakes received the highest number of votes, and with that in mind, the adventure began. Following the predetermined path, a brown bear became the first animal sighting of the day. Lounging on the rocks, he was suddenly awakened from his repose by the excited cries of “Bhalu! Bhalu!” emanating from the youngest member of the IRC group, a vibrant 2-year old from Nepal named Krishala. As Americans, the staff present laughed at the assumption that Krishala must have had a recent encounter with “Baloo”, the bear from Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book. However, her parents swiftly informed us that Bhalu was actually the Hindi word for bear. Curiosity piqued and a quick Google search later, we discovered that Kipling, who had lived in India and was fluent in Hindi, accordingly bestowed this moniker upon his big, loveable character.
The tigers were next to catch everyone’s attention. With three cubs and their parents to see, the excitement was palpable. As we all jockeyed for the best vantage point in the cave-like observation rooms, it was Krishala who once again stole the show, mimicking the tigers bathing ritual by licking the glass that thinly separated us from the great cats. It gave us all a good laugh.
Having checked the bears and tigers off the list, we headed toward the slithering reptiles that everyone - well, almost everyone - was eager to meet. Inside a darkened pavilion, we encountered what one might describe as “a huge, scary snake”, more accurately known as the Burmese Python. This intimidating reptile was nonetheless greeted joyfully by its visiting compatriots and actually chided for its unimpressive size! “They are much bigger in my country”, reported Phyu Phyu from Burma. As we soon learned, Burmese Pythons can grow to lengths of 23 feet and weigh up to 200 pounds.
One last surprise awaited as we made our way to the Zoo’s exit. The truly spectacular Himalayan Monal, which was immediately recognized by the Bhutanese refugees in the group. As it turns out, the Monal is the national bird of Nepal. The male, Danphe as it is called in Nepal, flaunts lustrous, multicolored plumage that descends from a metallic green crest. Boasting feathers that rival the beauty of a peacock’s, the Monal was a brilliant finish to our journey.
The Bronx Zoo will continue to be a destination for recently arrived refugee adults and youth, as it not only provides them with an escape from the bustling city, but also allows them the opportunity to reconnect with some of the wildlife from their native lands.
