Omayra Acevedo, Peak to Peak.   I never thought that growing up across the street from The Bronx Zoo was a big deal. That’s until I got much older and realized what it had taught me.

Almost monthly, my mother would take us to the zoo. As a child, it was always exciting to see wildlife up close and personal. The colors, the sizes, the shapes, where they came from, and even the smells were invigorating. Being somewhat of a nerd, education, other than at school, was always a thrilling adventure. There are things one learns at a zoo that cannot be learned anywhere else.

As I reached my twenties, the mere idea of an animal living behind an enclosure only broke my soul into a million pieces. However, what choice have we left for ourselves or them? It is due to our own negligence and lack of respect for other living things in this world, that we now resort to zoos in order to help protect and ensure the survival of so many magnificent creatures.

My mother taught me that I should always try to see the positive side of things regardless of how I felt. So, even in my thirties, I challenge myself to learn one new thing every time I visit the zoo. It’s a small challenge but with a magnitude of rewards. Doing this has helped me gain the knowledge I need to respect, understand and even do my part to become eco-friendlier.

Now, living in Colorado, The Denver Zoo has very much become part of my life and an even more important resource for protecting those animals that need it most. Animals speak, yet we’re not listening. Visit the zoo to understand what it is they are trying to say to us. I will suggest that when you go, you go with the intention of actually learning something about the zoo and the animals themselves. You’ll be surprised as to how much you have in common and how quickly compassion can begin to grow in your heart.

I’m grateful to have grown up so close to The Bronx Zoo. Without question, it taught me that though not everyone is responsible for the suffering of living things in the wild, we should all do what we can to help secure their future. A zoo, in my humble opinion, or a visit to one, is the very least we can do. Try not to look at a zoo as only a place to create memories with the family, but as a haven for the beauty we are trying so vehemently to keep alive.

…And don’t forget your camera!

For more information check out https://www.denverzoo.org/