My Outside Magic

When I first thought about what I was going to do for my "outside magic," I assumed it had to involve being somewhere completely natural, like hiking or being in a remote place. However, my experience at the Fort Worth Zoo made me rethink that idea. Even though the zoo is a curated and controlled environment, I still found myself connecting with nature in a way I did not expect. 

The Fort Worth Zoo, which first opened in 1909, has become one of the top-ranked zoos in the country and focuses heavily on conservation and species protection. Many of the animals there like the western lowland gorilla, are critically endangered and part of breeding and conservation programs. While the habitats are designed by humans, they are meant to reflect natural environments like lowland forests in western equatorial Africa. Knowing this made me more aware that even though the setting is manmade, the animals themselves and their behaviors still reflect what they would do in the wild as closely as possible.

Our visit took place right before a storm that was supposed to hit Fort Worth, but it never really came. The day was still hot despite the overcast sky, but my group walked all around the zoo, taking in each exhibit. Watching the gorillas, it was crazy how human-like their movements were, especially in the way they interacted with each other. We even saw elephants swimming to cool off in the heat and giraffes moving gracefully around what was designed to look like an African savannah. Then there was the African leopard, resting quietly in a tree. It was so cool to see all of these animals, from completely different environments, in one place and so close to each other.

The zoo ultimately felt like a balance between human interaction and nature. While some people are skeptical of zoos or question the idea of making money off animals, it is also a way to fund conservation efforts and protect species that might not survive in the wild. In today’s world, it is hard to find examples of “outside magic” that exist without some level of human influence or interference. That being said, I still felt genuinely connected to nature during this experience. Taking the time to slow down and observe these animals allowed gave me a new perspective on the intricacies of nature and the unique behaviors of different species.