Lions? In Florida?

Postcard, courtesy Impact

As I mentioned in my previous posts on West Palm Beach, Florida (starting with the post on 18th February) we went there to celebrate my husband’s birthday who wished to be in a warmer climate. This particular day we decided to visit Lion Country Safari.




Since we went to this park I have read opposing views about zoos, zoological parks and aquariums. I’ll mention several observations here – views “against”: animals should not be taken away from their environments for humans’ pleasure. Most visitors spend little time in front of zoo displays; they are there mostly for the entertainment than to learn about the animals. Animals that live in family groups in the wild are kept alone or just in pairs. Animals are confined, lack privacy with little opportunity for mental stimulation or physical exercise. Natural hunting and mating behavior are eliminated. Zoos continue to capture animals from the wild to put them on public display. It is cruel to keep animals confined.

Vintage postcard of tiger (1905)

Here are the views “for”: because of the population explosion, animal habitat has been encroached upon or destroyed at unbelievably high rates. Animals are slowly being starved and exterminated. Zoos are the only places the species are safe for the future. Zoos have changed from keeping animals in confined areas of concrete and metal bars to habitat created to more closely resemble conditions in the wild. Today most of zoo mammals come from other zoos; they were not taken from the wild. If shipped back to a foreign land it would be a death sentence. They live much longer in a zoo than in the wild. Zoos educate the public about the value of animals so the public will support conservation efforts. Zoos are actively involved in numerous projects to rescue and preserve endangered species. In 2007 alone, the Zoo and Aquarium in Columbus, Ohio raised over $716,000 for field conservation. Last June we took our 2 ½ year old grandson to the Columbus Zoo. He observed the animals, asked many questions. Television or a picture book would not have sparked his interest as much as watching the animals live, and close up.

Reports have shown that visitors experience a stronger connection to nature and animals after a visit to a zoo or zoological park. They prompt individuals to reconsider their role in environmental problems, conservation actions and enhance their understanding of wildlife. Across America there are over 200 zoos which were visited by about 160 million visitors. Last summer at the Atlanta zoo I saw a busload of small children from an in-town poor Atlanta school. If it were not for the zoo, they would never see a wild animal. Should zoos close their doors and send back all the animals? Should museums sell back their foreign artwork to the countries of origin, like the impressionist paintings to France, the statues to Italy, and so forth, and then close their doors? These are difficult questions that need to be pondered and, in the meantime, we’ll visit the West Palm Beach zoological park called Lion Country Safari. (Click on the pictures to enlarge them.)



The park calls itself the “Home of the drive through safari adventure.” Really you can drive through the 5-mile animal reserve just as you would on the plains somewhere in Africa and watch the animals far away or as close as your car door. The lions, though, are not free to roam since they could be dangerous for visitors or could eat many of the other animals... I certainly would rather go to Botswana or a game reserve in South Africa to watch the animals than in Florida, but these are not trips that can easily be managed.




This cageless zoo was developed by South African and British entrepreneurs who thought that the climate of South Florida was suited to house wild animals and bring an African game experience to the visitors in this rural area of West Palm Beach – a small town called Loxahatchee. They have close to 1000 animals in the reserve. We drove to the park at around 10:30 am and there were very few visitors.




After paying for the admission they gave us a CD so we could hear the narrative on the animals. We started driving slowly into the park. There never was more than one of two cars ahead or behind us, and at a distance. You do have to keep your doors and windows closed and they keep reminding you of this. I mostly used my little Olympus digital camera, Stylus 830, because it has a “through glass’ setting to take pictures. But the pictures may not be as clear and sharp as if I had had the windows open and in some pictures the light reflection can be seen. I took 328 pictures there and wish I could show them all here, but I won’t – I’ll do some collages and hope this will not be too long.

birds perched on decoys

The massive park is divided into seven sections named after famous wildlife areas and national parks in South America India and Africa. One is named Las Pampas (the Grasslands) – where the brown pelicans, the llamas, the Aldabra tortoises and the rheas are located. The rheas look like ostriches; they are large flightless birds native to South America, they cannot fly but can run 30 miles per hour. We drove a second time through the preserve and some of them came to look at us, pretty close to our car.



There were some lovely llamas which we would have liked to pet.



We passed by many water holes and small lakes with a variety of birds. Birds also gathered along the road to feast on the food left there for the other animals.

Don't forget to click on pictures to enlarge them

In the Ruhana National Park section (African wilderness) we drove by the impalas, aoudads and the greater kudus. As the animals came closer to observe us we stopped the car so they would not be afraid and run away.

One young female greater kudu (I think this is what she was) kept coming closer to look at me.



The Kalahari Bushveldt (Southwest Africa) had the gemsbok. It is a large African antelope with a tuft of hair at the throat and some darker color in the face area.



When we arrived in the Serengeti Plains section (East Africa)



we were greeted by an ostrich



then we passed by a waterbuck which is another type of antelope from Africa.



There were also some mouflons, elands and wildebeests.



From a distance we saw the African elephants. My daughter and I rode on top of Asian elephants while in Northern Thailand. The African and Asian elephants are very different. They differ anatomically and in temperament. The Asian elephant is more peaceable, reliable and trainable whereas the African elephant remains moody and undependable, at least in the wild. When you ride an Asian elephant you feel as though you dominate the world. The elephant moves slowly, assuredly and you float over the jungle. Three of the African elephants there are in a special enclosure in front of a small pond.



The Gir Forest, a well-known national park in India, had the Asiatic Water Buffalos. We drove very slowly and closer to them – they are big!



Then we rode by the Hwange National Park, a famous reserve in western Zimbabwe. This is the home of the white Rhinoceros – we saw quite a few of them. Lion Country Safari is a part of the SSP (Species Survival Plan) for this endangered species. Since 1977 many white rhinos have been born on their preserve. The name for the white rhino comes from the Afrikaans word “vide” which means wide or square-lipped. Their color is not white, but stone-gray.



One of the rhinos was having a snack, so we stopped to watch him.



He interrupted his snacking and started walking towards us.



Then he stopped and watched me. I was a bit anxious as I did not want him to charge the car.



I started the car very slowly and eased toward the giraffe’s area. Looking on the right hand side I quickly snapped a picture of a white-handed gibbon – he was shooing some birds that were encroaching on his domain.



One of the giraffes was feeding and the others were outside with their young ones.




Reaching the Gorongosa Reserve, located in Northern Mozambique, we saw the lions behind a safety fence. Game wardens in pick-up trucks made sure that no visitors open their car windows. One of the lions was next to the fence on a hill. The animals are not confined but their area is quite large. It was hard to get a good shot through the car window. I also used my Sony DSC-HX1 as it has a telephoto lens.





The second time we drove through the Hwange area many zebras were near and on the road. We stopped and were able to look at them quite close. I happily snapped away – 23 pictures, below are just a few.

click on pictures to get a better look

After touring the reserve with our car we left it in the parking area and explored the park further, on foot. We took the Nature Trail which brought us near Lake Shanalee. Many birds were around the lake – Sarus Cranes, Flamingos, etc. as well as large turtles.

The Lori bird feeding area was enclosed by nettings. The birds flew all around us and perched on our shoulders, our heads and bags. My husband had left his camera case on a cement seat and the birds went all over it to investigate.






On our way out we passed the Macaws




Finally it was time to leave – and we had not seen everything.




It had been an enjoyable day even though it can be difficult to see animals in captivity but then – what if the animal would not survive anyway because of the constant human need for more land, urbanization, deforestation and global warming? Wildlife is slowly being lost – more than 5,700 species are on the brink of extinction, including 1/8th of the bird species and ¼ of all mammals – add to this number about half of the 6,000 species of amphibians (frogs, salamanders, etc.) Zoos are one way we can make amends for destruction of lands and seas but mankind needs to halt the spiraling growth of population and its demand on the planet or there won’t be any wild animals left. Animals are an important part of our Earth and since we are the ones who put them in danger we need to do everything we can to protect them.

"En fin de compte, nous protègerons seulement ce que nous aimons.
Nous n'aimerons que ce que nous comprendrons.
Nous ne comprendrons que ce qui nous a été enseigné ."

- Baba Dioum, Poète et Naturaliste Sénégalais né en 1937

(d’un discours fait à New Delhi, Indes in 1968.)


Lion in a Landscape, Rosa Bonheur, American, 1822-1899

"In the end, we will protect only what we love.
We will love only what we understand.
We will understand only what we are taught."

- Baba Dioum, Senegalese Poet and Environmentalist born in 1937
(from a speech made in New Delhi, India in 1968.)

… and also in West Palm Beach, Florida

On the second day of our little trip to West Palm Beach (see first day here) we decided to visit the Norton Museum of Art which is close to the center of town on Dixie Avenue almost in front of Woodland Cemetery. I had read that this museum was the largest art museum in Florida with a distinguished collection of modern masters as well as 19th and 20th century art including some international masterpieces such as French artists Braque, Gauguin, Monet, Utrillo and American artists David, Hassam and Hopper. (Click on pictures to enlarge them.)




As we entered the museum we were greeted by a large sign announcing a special exhibit of photographs by fashion photographer Richard Avedon (1923-2004.) I remember seeing many of his imaginative photographs in fashion magazines, like Elle in France and also Vogue here. Security told us that pictures could be taken outside the exhibit, but not inside. I did buy some Avedon postcards in the gift shop so I could show them here (copyright the Richard Avedon Foundation. )





Richard Avedon is one of the greatest fashion photographers and maybe the most talented of the 20th century. He revolutionized fashion photography with his very innovative style, capturing his subjects in motion and showing them in a new light. He started his career by taking ID pictures for the US Merchant Marine. Then he became the fashion photographer for Harper’s Bazaar from 1945 to 1965. He then went on to Vogue magazine but at the same time he created many artistic series and portraits. Some of his portraits are of the famous and high-profile celebrities of the time such as Marilyn Monroe, the Beatles, Elizabeth Taylor and many others. More than 160 of his works are on exhibit at the Norton until 9 May, 2010. It was thrilling to see original magazine covers and vintage prints that I had seen in many magazines.


From top left: Cher in 1974 (Cheryl Sarkisian, American singer born May 20 1946) - Richard Avedon in front of his portraits - Model Davima with dog Sacha in a suit by Balenciaga in Café des Deux Magots, Paris 1965 - Brigitte Bardot in 1959 (French actress born Sept 28, 1934.)

After looking attentively at all these photographs and getting in the mood of the 60s in Paris I was ready to get back to Florida and sit for a while. Outside of the exhibit, back on the main floor of the museum, is a small circular room with a colorful Dale Chihuly (American Glass Blowing artist, born in 1941) glass ceiling. I took some pictures but they don’t do it justice – looking up to the ceiling you gaze through 700 individual glass sculptures. They create layers of translucent and joyful colors evoking an aquatic experience.




We walked to the new wing of the museum where a wide staircase leads to two floors of the permanent collection. As you walk up you pass by metal light boxes containing quotes from some well-known artists, such as: “To be an artist is to believe in life” – Henry Moore, “Art seems to me to be above all a state of soul” – Marc Chagall.







Once rested we trotted to the second floor where the Chinese art was located with tons of sculptures, furniture and exquisite ink paintings.

The Goddess Avalokitesvara, bronze sculpture by Allan Clark, American 1896-1950

The Norton Museum’s permanent collection consists of 5000 works – we could only see a small portion of them. I liked the American wing with such painters as Andrew Wyeth and Abbott Fuller Graves. I purchased the postcards below of their works.

Postcard of Pirate Country, 1939 watercolor by Andrew Wyeth, American 1917-2009

Postcard of Gathering Lilies, 1900, Abbott Fuller Graves, American 1859-1936

Then we walked into the European masters wing. I cannot describe the feeling to find myself in front of a known painting that I have only seen in a picture reproduction. There were several Maurice Utrillo’s.

Maurice Utrillo, French 1883-1955 from top: Rue de Montmartre, Little Country Church, Le Préau (the Courtyard.)

A few years ago we visited the Kimball Art Museum in Fort Worth, Texas to see the Monet exhibit they had at the time. It was “Monet and the Mediterranean.“ Claude Monet was an indefatigable traveler in pursuit of light and visual stimuli. In 1884 he started his trip on the Côte d’Azur and went all the way to Venice, Italy. The museum in Fort Worth had assembled all his paintings from that period. The art works were loaned from private collectors and museums from all over the world. The Norton Museum Monet below had been loaned to the Texas exhibition.

Gardens at the Villa Moreno, Bordighera 1884, Claude Monet, French 1840-1926

This Monet painting was back at the Norton’s and we were pleased to admire it again. There were also the Portrait of Marguerite by Henri Matisse, The Man with a Carnation by Pierre Auguste Renoir and The Viaduct by Fernand Léger. I could not move from the Georges Braque paintings. I had looked at them so often in a small book I had when in France. I took art lessons in Paris and would have liked to possess his bold Cubism style which I tried to reproduce, in my manner. And there, in a small town in Florida were his paintings. These French paintings were so far away from their original homes; did they feel “heimat” like I did? Are they just pieces of fabric with some wood around them? Or do they get special vibrations when surrounded by the language that was spoken when they were created? (don’t think French is spoken very often at the Norton Museum though.)

From top left: Man with a Carnation, Pierre Auguste Renoir, French 1841-1919

Le Semaphore, Georges Braque, French, 1882-1963
Le Viaduct, Fernand Leger, French 1881-1955
Portrait of Marguerite, Henri Matisse, French 1869-1954

We saw many other pieces of art, more than I can remember. As we passed a glass wall on our way outside I took a couple of photographs because of the shadows and shapes – the curved benches, the sun reflecting on the ground and the palm trees outside the hurricane-proof glass.



We left and went back to a small seafood restaurant we had driven by because we realized that after several hours looking at art we had built up an appetite. It was called the Gulfstream Seafood Restaurant. We sampled a couple of their specials:

My husband had fish with corn on the cob and mixed vegetables

I had the stuffed snapper with sweet potato fries and marinated beets

It was time to go for a walk. I was ready to take more photographs but clouds were hovering and the sun was gone. We walked on Flagler Avenue along Lake Worth. Across from us was the Flagler Museum on Palm Beach Island – that was on our list for a visit in the next couple of days. Close by was the Breakers Hotel.



There were very few people walking along the lake (actually, none.)



I have a vintage postcard of the Lake Trail, but that day the water was not at all calm.




The wind was picking up, the palm trees were swaying. During the winter months it may be quite windy along Worth Lake since there are braces to protect the palm trees. Looking up I wondered if any of the coconut would fall on our heads.




As the wind was getting stronger the palm trees were waving even more and the lake was getting choppier.



The sky was darkening, so we decided to call it a day.



Then it was time for me to check all my travel brochures and plan our next day.

Painting by George Goodwin Kilburne, English 1839-1924

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ADDENDUM: Several readers asked me if the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach, Florida is connected with the Norton Simon Museum of Pasadena, California. I do not think so.

A wealthy industrialist (former head of Chicago based Acme Steel Co.) Ralph Hubbard Norton (1875-1953) and his wife Elizabeth Calhoun Norton (1881-1947) retired to West Palm Beach with a collection of over 5000 sculptures and paintings. They believed that their collection should be preserved and shared so decided to place them in a museum. The Norton Museum of Art opened in 1941.

Industrialist Norton Simon (1907-1993) was a passionate art collector who had amassed a growing collection of over 4,000 art objects and was looking for a location to display them. In 1974 the Pasadena Art Museum which was financially strapped made an overture to Mr Simon. They came to an agreement : Norton Simon absorbed the museum debts and assumed its leadership. The Pasadena Art Museum changed its name to the Norton Simon Museum.

I did not know of the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena, but now that I do, next time I am in California I shall visit it and tell you all about it.