) Wednesday, December 16,1992 We Asked and You Said 2 Page from the Past 3 Community Correspondence 5-8 .izaasuax ■ \ ^ Bowmanville's Moonlight Madness extravaganza was sorely threatened by that extraordinarily large snowstorm early Friday. Friday. But, the band of merry merchants who organized the event, continued with their plans and by about 8 in the evening, the weather cleared and hundreds of young citizens ventured forth to check out the action, followed shortly after by crowds of curious adults. Unfortunately, Unfortunately, not all stores were open because of the inclement weather. The ones who made it and donned unique attire, such as nightgowns, were rewarded for their efforts by customers who packed most of the open stores until nearly midnight. One of our wandering camera crew finally showed up and went to work to record part of the historic historic scene. You'll see the special sled packed with patrons touring the town, and some of the merchants in action at their establishments. establishments. We won't even try to identify them, they will know who they are. The opinions heard were all hopeful that the event will be repeated repeated next year and be bigger and better, without so much snow. W A. ' Épl|pf |l|^eK. 1 ■ F-m ' - - 4] V V £*. J , IT! • ElllF by Lorraine Manfredo Running a zoo isn't so different from running a farm, say zoo owners Leslie Pon Tell and Michael Hackcn- berger. "You'll never get rich running a zoo... ever, ever, ever," Mr. Hack- enberger insists. "But, you will have a good quality of life." Ms Pon Tell and Mr. Hackcnbcr- ger met several years ago at a zoo convention where they became friends. Five years ago they purchased the Bowmanvillc Zoo, which is the oldest one in Canada, and one of only a handful that arc privately-owned. Under their direction, the compact compact zoo on Highway Two continues continues to live up to its excellent reputation reputation around the world, drawing visitors from all over North America, America, and admiration from both for-, cign and domestic animal experts. The two local zoo-kccpcrs were at the Lions Centre last week to describe describe their views on wildlife maintenance maintenance today. "Humans have always had a long association with animals, from hunting hunting wild game to domesticating farm animals," said Michael Hack- enberger. But, the evolution of cities has distanced a great number of urban residents from that historical association. association. "Just by the way visiting children deal with the animals, we can tell whether they're from an urban or rural rural community," lie said. Generally, the city kids seem to have less of an affinity for the animals, animals, Hackcnbcrgcr and Pon Tell also •came across contrasting views regarding regarding the treatment of captive animals animals the day they decided to cut off a resident bear's supply of orange pop. The popular black bear with the uncanny craving for orange pop had gained fame all over Canada for his humourous habit. But, when Hack- enberger and Pon Tell scratched his beverage of choice off tire menu for health reasons, public reaction was split. "We had an equal number of regrets regrets and compliments about the decision," decision," Hackcnbcrgcr recalled, "And that just underscores tire differing differing perceptions in the general ' public regarding animals." Even within tire zoo-keeping profession, profession, operators arc divided over the degree of human interaction ani- mals should receive. Zoo Offers Strong Interrelation Between Human and Animals In fact, social creatures -- especially especially elephants -- suffer tremendously tremendously if they arc deprived of close social contact. Pon Tell and Hackcnbcrgcr know this from their experience with Lim- ba, an ailing Asian female rescued from a life of isolation at a northern zoo. With fresh hay in short supply and attention even scarcer, solitary Limba had deteriorated over the yC Once introduced to the herd and caretakers at Bowmanvillc Zoo, however, Litnba's lot improved steadily. But her recovery will never be complete. , , "She's always going to bo a little bit of a different elephant," Hacken- berger realizes. "When I say different, different, I mean she's never going to integrate integrate fully. She's just carrying too many scars from her past experience." experience." But the zoo elephants arc not treated like pets. Not by a long shot. Hackcnbcrgcr and Pon Tell respect the intelligence and aggression that even their captive elephants exhibit. Partly in the interests of preserving preserving such traits, and partly to avoid liability in the case of an injured employee, employee, many zoos now advocate a move away from close physical contact contact with their elephants. "A lot of facilities arc going with a hands-off approach with elephants" elephants" according to Hackcnbcrgcr. "But you lose a huge quality of life for the animals that way." I-Ic relates cases where dwindling populations of certain species in the wild were rc-slocked with specimens specimens bred in captivity. If not for the zoos that kept the rare breeds, they could easily have become extinct. The Bowmanvillc Zoo is renowned renowned for its hard-working elephants. elephants. The huge beasts give rides to visiting children.and travel to exotic exotic locations to perform. While Pon Tell and Hackcnbcrgcr Hackcnbcrgcr give the best of care to their own elephants, they fear deeply for the ones in the wild. In Africa, where herds arc disappearing, disappearing, 100,000 humans arc born every year, More and more land is needed for farmland. "But agriculture and wildlife don't mix," said Hackcnbcrgcr. "A herd of elephants can cat out 100 acres in an evening, They're going to run out of room, I'm afraid with the way the world population is The owners of the Bowmanvillc zoo. growing, we're going to see one Zoo continue to do their part to pro- The Bowmanvillc Zoo is closed quarter of the world's current spe- tect the vulnerable and provide a during tire winter and re-opens again cies becoming extinct." good life for all their charges at the during early May. At a Lions Club meeting last week, Leslie Pon Tell (left), assured some skeptical club members members that her 20-pound boa constrictor from the Bowmanvillc Zoo wouldn't bite. The non- doesn't know her handler is edible. When fully grown, this boa would consider a couple of rabbits rabbits a fairly filling snack,