The lion and the lamb are not yet lying together, but a visit to Jerusalem's Biblical Zoo is a delightful - and educational - experience.
by Lili Eylon
For many children, a visit the Tisch Family Zoological Gardens - Biblical Zoo is their very first contact with animals: it is rare for children from orthodox-Jewish or Arab families to own pets. Here, they can see all the animals one might expect in a zoo, such as elephants, rhinos, cheetahs and monkeys, a tropical aviary and a waterfowl pond where the daily feeding of the pelicans is a favored spectacle. However, while they watch the animals, they are also learning about them. Plaques next to the enclosures detail the name, habitat and characteristics of each animal, and guides are present to explain their habits. The plaques also include biblical quotations which mention the animals.
Education is one of the aims and functions of this extraordinary zoo, located in the southwest of Jerusalem. Among the thousands of daily visitors are entire families, kindergarten and elementary school classes, and special education groups. In the "Children's World", youngsters can meet chinchillas, rabbits, iguanas, snakes and ferrets (all mentioned in the Bible), hold, pet and even feed them; the children's delight is clearly reflected in their faces.
Every holiday brings special activities. Recently, there was a Carnival of the Animals at the Biblical Zoo: elephants and ponies were brightly decorated, and children and their parents dressed up as animals.
One area currently under construction is restricted to zoo staff only: the zoo clinic. In addition to caring for sick and injured residents, the clinic has other special functions. Currently, a pair of beautiful red, blue and green parrots is among the "patients", present in the clinic because Georgie is unable to hide his feelings of jealousy, and becomes aggressive toward the other males in the enclosure. "We keep him - and her - here until he calms down," says Beverly, a veterinary technician. In another part of the clinic, a number of turtles are swimming in a water tank. Recently arrived at the zoo, they must be tested for parasites before being allowed to join the company of the other turtles.
A central attraction in the zoo is the Land of Biblical Animals exhibit, with oryx, ibex, fallow deer and wild sheep roaming freely within a large area. From an elevated bridge, visitors have excellent points of observation, and a train to different parts of the vast compound offers a welcome rest for tired passengers.
In addition to promoting love and respect for animals and public awareness for the environment, the Biblical Zoo cooperates with local nature and wildlife authorities, and works together with national and international organizations for conservation, captive breeding and restoring captive animals to their natural environment. Recently, the Biblical Zoo also raised and rehabilitated several young chimpanzees which had been confiscated from illegal "owners".