Did I mention I have the best guy ever? He promised me a fun surprise for Valentine's Day last week, but not only did we get rained out, we got monied out. This has been a hard couple of months money wise, but I can't complain too much because it's been hard on everyone. Anyway, we had to postpone the surprise to this Saturday. It was a long drive, but it was so worth it. When we got there, I saw a big sign advertising a place called "Tiger World." TIGERS!! OMFG!! I felt like a little kid for a second. Tigers! Weeee!
For those of you who don't know, I've long since said that in my next life, I want to come back as one of the guys whose job it is to play with tigers all day. I saw a show on it a few years back, one of those Animal Planet-type doodads talking about people who are trying to save tigers and rescue them from all these different places. Apparently, for the tigers' health and rehabilitation, they are required to play with these handlers. It was like watching gigantic kitty cats frolic around. And these dudes are huge, so it's funny to see them hauling ass, and Mr. Tiger is all "la dee da dee…GOTCHA!" I know it makes me insane, but that looks like an awesome job.
Anyway, my honey knows me so very well. The place opened last summer, so it's not even a year old yet. I had never even heard of the place until that point. Apparently, it's like this conservation effort/zoo thing that houses all kinds of animals, but mostly big cats. For $5, you can get a bag of goodies and feed the bears and birds and monkeys. Not the tigers. Basically, you toss whatever you got to the animals in the cages, unless of course they are ducks or peacocks. No one is afraid of them, and they don't throw poo, so they get free range of the place. The monkeys, being the clever animals they are, saw us coming and started waving at us to give them cookies. Those little guys can catch!
It made me a little sad to see some of the tigers cooped up in cages, though. Some of them were on their way to other zoos, and they looked restless and bored. It hurts the heart to see what the big cats of the world have been reduced to. Still, I guess it's better than being extinct, and the tiger is well on its way thanks to us stupid humans. Yeah, yeah, I know. I sound like one of those hippie nature show hosts, but I don't care. The big cats make me happy, and I hate to see them go.
I hope they get some baby cubs soon. I've always wanted to hug one.
For more information on Tiger World, click the brochure:
So was this a paid ad by Tiger World? :p
Glad you had fun.
I wish I worked for Tiger World. It would be a thousand times better than where I work now. >:b
I did have a great time, though!