THE TIGER IN THE ZOO Monkey: Hey Tiger, why are you so upset? Tiger: I just miss my home. Monkey: Home? You mean… The jungle? Tiger: Yeah, that’s my home and now I just want to get out of here, it feels irritating being locked inside a cage at the zoo and having to entertain those humans. Monkey: Come on, Tiger, don’t be so pessimistic. This is my home and it will soon be yours, I think living here was not that bad. Do you see the tree over there? That’s where I sleep, and I have water from this small stream to drink. I don’t have to worry about what to eat because there are people who will take care of me. What a wonderful life! Tiger *sigh*: But that’s not the life I want. Monkey: Then what’s the life you want? Tiger: I want to be free, go back to my forest and do the things I want to do. That’s where I belong to. Monkey: What can you do in the forest? That’s a dangerous place with many poisonous trees and harmful animals. Tiger: You’ve got a point, but the forest is also my home, it is a very beautiful place with tall trees, high mountains which are majestic, wilder and mysterious. Monkey: Really? The forest is that nice? How is your life in the forest? Tiger: Yeah, there are moonlit nights when I stand by the stream and watch the magnificent night sky, there are rainy days when I wander everywhere and contemplate my splendid forest, there are dawns with green trees and sunshine, bustling with birdsongs. In the middle of the nights when I can't sleep, I remember the sound of the stream flowing over the waterfall, the scent of grass and fresh air, the feeling of sleeping in the wet ground. Even I can’t forget the taste of leaves and fruits I have ever eaten. But now I can't go back to the old days anymore Oh, I miss my glorious time so much! Monkey: Wow, sound amazing! I see you really like living in the forest. Tiger: Yes, only when I’m in the forest can I be the real me, live with my true self, be free in the wild jungle and roam in nature. Monkey: It’s so great, I wish I could go there once. In the zoo, I only have a small area to live in and I’m not allowed to run around or eat too much fruits. Tiger: The jungle is very spacious and there are lots of delicious fruits so you can eat as much as you want, of course without anyone’s permission. Monkey: Wow that’s fantastic! Tiger: How about you, Monkey? How is your life in the zoo? Monkey: Everything here is fine, I was provided shelter, enough food and drink. I also have friends in the cage beside. Every day, there are visitors who come to see me and if I make them happy, they will give me food. Most people are very friendly and treat me well, but compared to your life in the forest, mine is a bit boring. Tiger: Wait, you’ve just said those humans are friendly? Monkey: Yeah, I think so, what’s wrong? Tiger: Humans have cut down trees in the forest, making many animals lose their homes. They also hunt down rhinos for horns and use clothes made from animals’ fur. Monkey *shocked*: How cruel? Tiger: Not only that, humans also do a lot of animal testing, causing animals to suffer from intense pain. And now, look what they’ve done to me, captured my freedom and locked me in a concrete cell. Monkey: Oh I never think that humans can do such things. Most people I’ve met are very gentle and kind. Anyway I have to agree with you that I don’t like being sieged in this cage. I think I no longer belong this place anymore, I belong to the jungle. Tiger: Yeah, and they will never understand that we should be in our natural habitat. No one likes to be trapped and caged. All creatures want to be free, so why animals should be treated differently. After all, we are also living beings. Monkey: I agree; animals should be respected as citizens of this Earth.
