Zoo-p-a-zee-zoo-za...

In our many, varied discussions of environmental politics, we have yet to mention what originally, as a kid, made me care about the environment: the conservation of animals. On a very visceral level, I care about the environment not only because, we, as humans, must live in it, but because all creatures great and small (amazing TV show, and the books by James Herriot they are based off of were some of my favorite childhood reads) must live in this world too.

SO! With that in mind, let's look in our own backyard for an organization that is doing amazing work in animal conversation, and by necessity, habitat conservation: Smithsonian's National Zoo! The zoo, which if you have never been to before, what have you been DOING these years in DC, is not just a place to house animals. The National Zoo IS HUGE. The number of research institutions, programs and projects they are undertaking is amazing! And it is all for saving animals. By saving animals, which doesn't mean just stopping a species from going extinct, but increasing genetic diversity, preserving habitat, encouraging sustainable practices locally in animals' habitats and globally with people are the world, the zoo works to help not just lions and tigers and bears and fish and birds, but you and me.

The question though, that is brought into questions with zoos is the idea of preservation vs. conservation. Preservation essentially says get rid of human use of certain ecosystems all together, while conservation is saying we need to regulate human use. The zoo falls into the conservation category, realizing that we cannot get rid of humans, we're here to stay, but we can find ways to sustainably develop how we treat animals and their habitats, for the reasons I've already mentioned, but also, to quote from one of my favorite books, Last Chance to See (by Douglas Adams and Mark Carwardine): "There is one last reason for caring, and I believe no other reason is necessary. It is certainly the reason why so many people have devoted their lives to protecting the likes of rhinos, parakeets, kakapos, and dolphins. And it is simply this: the world would be a poorer, darker, lonelier place without them."

And now, pictures of the SEVEN, COUNT THEM SEVEN, lion cubs born within the last two months at the National Zoo!

(Click to be overwhelmed by adorableness)

Shera's four cubs

and

Naba's three cubs' first exam!

I am in overwhelmed.