All good things are wild and free: Considering the zoo

There's very little that's surprising about a visit to the zoo. Many of us have been familiar with zoos since we were small. Even before you enter, you know you'll probably see a lion, a tiger, koalas and some birds. The aesthetic experience is special and strange, yet predictable and safe: creatures we do not encounter in the everyday are here in abundance, behind bars or glass to protect them and us. The seals frolic and the lions roar. Young families laden with snacks, icypoles and prams cluster around exhibits, while couples stroll hand in hand, cooing at creatures.