| Throughout history, no species has ever
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| | with the expressive beauty of horses,
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| been as fascinated with its fellow
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| | some of us with bizarre and outlandish
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| creatures as human beings. We have
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| | animals like elephants and giraffes, and
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| hunted animals, eaten them, raised them,
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| | some of us with powerful hunters like
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| bred them, domesticated them, drawn them,
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| | lions or wolves. We've always secretly
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| composed songs and poetry about them, and
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| | wondered what it would be like to run
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| loved them for millennia. But why? What
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| | like a cheetah, fly like an eagle, swing
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| is behind this intense fascination we've
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| | like a monkey, or swim like a dolphin.
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| always had with other creatures, whether
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| | From the biggest whales to the tiniest
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| fuzzy and cute or scary and dangerous-or
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| | amoebas, animals have always filled us
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| both?
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| | with a sense of wonder. And with their
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| The thrill. Nothing compares with the
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| | physical abilities often far beyond ours,
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| thrill you get when you see a big animal
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| | animals really do have special powers.
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| in its natural environment for the first
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| | As a species, animals have inspired us to
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| time. We love the excitement of
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| | learn to fly in planes and go under the
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| encountering bears, big cats, deer,
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| | sea in submarines-but we can never do it
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| eagles, owls, and other herbivores and
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| | with the grace of a bird or a fish.
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| predators. Even though it's ill-advised
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| | Maybe that's why so many people care
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| to do this in the wild, we love to watch
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| | about protecting animals from pollution
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| them unseen, our breath caught in our
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| | and poaching. If we lost the great
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| throats and our hearts filled with
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| | variety of animal species on our planet,
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| wonder. Just seeing the majesty and
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| | we'd kill humanity's sense of wonder and
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| power of these remarkable creatures once
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| | inspiration, as well.
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| can be a life-changing experience.
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| | Making a connection. So many of us have
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| Another thing that makes an encounter
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| | loved a pet-whether a dog, a cat, a
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| with a large animal in the wild so
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| | horse, a parakeet, or a hamster. Anyone
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| memorable is the fact that it's so
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| | who's ever owned a pet will tell you that
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| rare-very few people have the privilege
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| | animals have feelings and emotions, their
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| of encountering these animals anywhere,
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| | own intelligence, and their own way of
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| let alone in the wild. We love to go to
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| | communicating-and that they experienced a
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| zoos to see big animals we'd never see in
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| | strong emotional connection with their
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| the wild, from a safe vantage point
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| | pet. We love that connection we have
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| behind glass or bars. Even seeing them
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| | with our pets, and many of us believe
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| in captivity can give us the same sense
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| | it's possible to foster a connection with
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| of excitement.
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| | any animal, no matter how different from
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| Curiosity. What do animals do when
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| | us. We dream of forging bonds with lions
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| we're not looking? How do they behave
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| | and tigers, getting to know monkeys and
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| when they're happy, sad, scared, angry,
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| | horses, and communicating with dolphins
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| or hungry? How do they hunt, what do
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| | and whales. We love when a fierce bird
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| they eat, and what can they teach us
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| | of prey lands on our arm without
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| about being alive? So many of us are
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| | hesitation, when a cat cuddles trustingly
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| thirsty for knowledge about animals and
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| | in our laps, when a horse nickers to us
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| their lives. We want to know how they're
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| | like he's greeting an old friend. Many
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| similar from us and how they're
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| | animal-lovers will tell you that animals
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| different. Maybe if we knew all there is
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| | make wonderful friends-they don't lie,
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| to know about other animals, we could
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| | they don't judge, and they don't hate.
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| better understand ourselves as a
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| | No matter your reason for craving that
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| species-and have a clearer picture of
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| | connection with an animal, most in our
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| where we came from. We love zoos and
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| | species do. When we're communicating
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| other animal facilities for the
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| | with an animal, we humans feel less
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| opportunity they give us to learn about
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| | alone.
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| animals and see them close-up-some zoos
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| | In the end, it's hard to say exactly why
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| even let you shadow a zookeeper for a
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| | we love animals. But humans have always
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| day. It's hard to find anyone who
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| | wanted to get as close to animals as
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| wouldn't love to have an opportunity to
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| | possible-and not just to hunt them.
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| learn more about animals both rare and
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| | Animals have always inspired our
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| numerous.
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| | imaginations, thrilled our spirits, and
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| A sense of wonder. As a child, did you
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| | tugged at our heartstrings. It's a
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| have a favorite animal-one that seemed so
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| | partnership that will continue as long as
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| beautiful, outlandish, powerful, or
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| | humans share space on earth with other
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| special you were convinced it had to have
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| | living creatures.
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| magical powers? Some of us fell in love
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