Man has always entertained a deep fascination with animals. That’s why we keep pets and maintain zoos. In recent years, much attention has been paid to animals at risk of extinction. Considerable human effort has gone into trying to reverse frightening trends of declining animal populations. We seem to know instinctively that, if we were we to lose this resource, something fragile and sacred would be irreparably broken.
A trip to the zoo used to rank quite high on the list of activities for families. Now, any parent suggesting it is likely to get skewed looks. All children simply love animals. They seem to enjoy a special connection with our furry and feathered (and perhaps less so with our scaly) friends. They tend to be reticent to embrace the cheerless spectacle of seeing living beings trapped behind walls and moats. Even adults have come to see cages and bars as metaphors of their own: guilt; habit; obligation; etc. For most – perhaps less susceptible to popular media-based psychological reverie – a trip to the zoo remains a great opportunity for family bonding.
Twenty years ago, we took a ride up to Space Farms in Sussex, NJ. My kids at the time had not been to school yet and were quite enthused by the prospect of a family outing. The only thing I personally remember is seeing a huge 2000 lb. bear (Goliath) standing bolt upright inside a cage that seemed woefully small. To be fair, anything in close proximity to this huge animal would have appeared small. Within weeks of our visit, however, our local Sunday paper published an article listing the best and worst zoos in America. Space Farms came in dead last.
It took us 20 some odd years to return. We’d been hearing Space Farms advertise on the radio and were curious as to any improvements that might have been made. At the very least, we felt, it’s a lovely ride through some fabulous rural scenery. Zinga’s Corn Patch still beckoned us along the way, but we decided not to stop there this time around. Instead, we picked a 50’s-style burger joint just up the road (to have our lunch) where girls in snappy uniforms still skate out to the parked cars to take orders.
According to the zoo’s website, Space Farms has the largest private collection of North American animals in their natural surroundings in the United States, adding that there are also many exotic species from around the world. It boasts of being internationally known for its bear and lion cub breeding programs.
Arriving at Space Farms, we found it to be a great place. The animals seemed well-fed and happy enough. There is also a series of buildings, housing collections of old cars, tools, toys, and farm machinery. The bear I had seen some 20 years ago was now stuffed and standing bolt upright in the entry hall along with many other taxidermal curiosities. I noted immediately that there was a definite dearth of visitors. Perhaps this was due in part to the unsettled weather or the fact that our visit fell smack in the middle of the work week. Perhaps, if they could figure out how to put the visitors into cages and let the animals roam free, Space Farm’s attendance would improve significantly.
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