Are The Animals Supposed to be Out of Their Cages?

April 12th: Monday

Monday we were in Kamala and Entebbe and that afternoon we decided to go to the infamous Entebbe zoo. the day did not get off to an auspicious start. As we got out of the car several monkeys scampered by us and hopped over the fence. Apparently trying to keep the animals captive was not a strong point of this particular facility. if it had been a petting zoo it would have been less worrysome but as they had lions and hyens and the like we entered with some trepidation.

After trying (and on my part failing) to get a reduced ticket part because “of course we’re residents” we walked in. Fortunately it seemed as though the staff has only given up on keeping the vervet monkeys behind bars. unfortunately the janitorial service seemed to have all been sick or on holiday, for months.

The range of animals was rather impressive including believe it or not, a cow. remember that this is a country where you cant go 20 minutes without seeing a cow. they are everywhere, even in the cities. And yet somehow this most mundane of beasts came to reside with the zebras and ostriches. While the animals are contained for the most part the style of construction is somewhat lacking. the phrase jua-kali comes to mind. At the rhino’s enclosure there was only a 6 foot high metal fence which might consul a few but didnt look up to the job of stopping a half ton charging rhino.

As if to reasure you there are helpful signs all over the Zoo like "Dangerous Animal" in front of the Lion's cage. Also they had signs with emergency phone numbers assumedly in case you were being chased by some escaped animal and needed some assistance.

The scariest animal in the entire zoo isnt even restricted to an enclosure and actually technically isnt even part of the zoo. around the trees throughout the zoo there are hundreds and hundreds of spiders hanging in their webs. this lovely arachnids ranged from about the size of a quarter to as big as a tea saucer. ugh. the scond scariest animal was this freaky looking bird called a shoe-bill. looke kinda like a dinosaur but it had this evil looked in its eye. it said “I am going to eat you.’” Obviously there wornt any baboons.