By ESSENCE LOYLESS/Contributor
At Tyler’s Calwell Zoo, a light drizzle hits the pine trees and dampens the brick paths, leaving a clean, earthy smell in the air. On this chilly, overcast morning, the park is wide awake. Otters streak through the water, lions sit right up against the glass, and families in rain jackets discover it is the great time to visit.
In the African Savanna exhibit, a massive male African lion rests just inches from the viewing glass. His thick dark mane is dotted with raindrops as he sits completely still and stares out over a field.
Three-year-old Titus Jordan of Tyler steps up to the glass.
“I can’t go with the lions!” Titus shouts at the top of his lungs, pointing straight at the giant cat.
His voice echoes off the glass and the lion turns its head instantly, showing how big he is. Titus presses right up to the safety glass, his eyes wide as the lion turns its head toward him.
“Or he’s gonna bite me!” Titus continues, practically bouncing in his shoes.
His mom, Christi Jordan, steps beside him, totally calm and used to his energy.
“Yes,” she whispers back, watching the huge lion rest its paws on the grass.
Titus wants more action.
“LIIIOOOONNNN!” He yells, waving his hands to get the cat to look his way.
“Shhhhhhh,” his mom and his dad, Brandon Jordan, both say quietly, leaning down to calm him before he startles the lion away.
Titus points a small finger toward the far side of the enclosure where a mote separates the lions from the zebras.
“I’m tellin’ the lion…” he says wanting to explain himself. “I’m telling the lion the water is over there.”
LEARN AS YOU GO
Watching Titus interact with the lion shows how the zoo gives kids a chance to learn naturally.
“We visit the zoo frequently,” Christi Jordan says as the family walks along the safari trail path. “We come with friends, family, and their kids. We come for birthdays or just for a day out like today.”
What keeps them coming back is that no two trips are ever the same. The 80-acre zoo houses more than 3,000 animals and 200 species.
“It’s very educational for the kids, and it’s not the same every time,” Christi Jordan says.
“Sometimes the animals are more active than other days. Or sometimes you can catch animal encounters, and other days you may see an animal that wasn’t in the exhibit the last time you came.”
She said the zoo makes it easy to explore the animal exhibits without feeling rushed.
“We really like that you can take your time,” Brandon Jordan adds. “You can go have a picnic and then come back and finish the exhibits.”
OTTER ACROBATS
As the drizzle picks up, the Jordan family and others go into the otter exhibit, where two North American river otters are diving, flipping, and zooming through the clear water like acrobats.
People shuffle back and forth along the glass, following the otters chase each other back and forth.
Holding a bag of Cheetos, Titus finds a spot right on the wooden ledge against the display glass. He munches on his snack, completely relaxed, as the otters dive to the bottom, kick off the glass, and swim inches in front of his face.
This time, unlike when he saw the lion, Titus lets out a few quiet “looks” and “ooohs” every time an otter shoots past him.
He doesn’t need to read the information plaque on the wall to learn how fast and playful otters are. He sees it right in front of him.
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