Saturday, we decided to visit the Warsaw Zoo. We got bus directions from the hotel because the zoo is on the other side of the Wisła River and too long a walk (according to all the Burke children!). Tim was able to practice his Polish when he had to ask a fellow passenger for the correct stop.
As you can see by the nearness of the bears in these pictures, this zoo is not too terribly concerned about visitor or animal safety! When I looked on the cement just inside the wall separating the bears from the people, I could see claw marks! This exhibit is along the sidewalk of a busy road!
Bears are an important symbolic animal in Polish and Russian culture. Check out this link for information about a Polish bear "soldier" in WWII --
http://beatroot.blogspot.com/2008_01_01_archive.html
The rest of the exhibits were pretty typical of a zoo that doesn't have a lot of money. While the property was lovely and spacious, the animal enclosures were a little depressing and the animals were lethargic and sad-looking. We saw the usual animals- zebras, giraffes, elephants, penguins, monkeys, etc. but nothing too impressive. The bears and all the minimal fencing were the most exciting part of the day.
Michael was disappointed there were no "real" Pandas (only a Red Panda high in a tree). Right after this, my camera battery died.
Saturday, we decided to visit the Warsaw Zoo. We got bus directions from the hotel because the zoo is on the other side of the Wisła River and too long a walk (according to all the Burke children!). Tim was able to practice his Polish when he had to ask a fellow passenger for the correct stop.
As you can see by the nearness of the bears in these pictures, this zoo is not too terribly concerned about visitor or animal safety! When I looked on the cement just inside the wall separating the bears from the people, I could see claw marks! This exhibit is along the sidewalk of a busy road!
Bears are an important symbolic animal in Polish and Russian culture. Check out this link for information about a Polish bear "soldier" in WWII --http://beatroot.blogspot.com/2008_01_01_archive.html
The rest of the exhibits were pretty typical of a zoo that doesn't have a lot of money. While the property was lovely and spacious, the animal enclosures were a little depressing and the animals were lethargic and sad-looking. We saw the usual animals- zebras, giraffes, elephants, penguins, monkeys, etc. but nothing too impressive. The bears and all the minimal fencing were the most exciting part of the day.
Michael was disappointed there were no "real" Pandas (only a Red Panda high in a tree). Right after this, my camera battery died.
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