 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
Monkey-ing around at the Natural History Museum |
| After his
explorations into historic life-forms, Monkey decides to get up to date
an explore the animals that exist in the modern world. He starts
off by meeting some of the many land mammals in the huge hall dedicated
to all things mammalian... (click picture to enlarge)
|
) Now
I feel more at home among one of my primate cousins! This orang-utan
is one of the worlds 'great apes', though I personally don't see what is
so great about them. I mean, sure, his name might mean something
noble like 'Old Man of the Forest', and he might be able to give great
cuddles with and arm span of up to 7ft, but can he do anything
else? I ask him for a bit of insight into his life and he tells me
that orang-utans have learnt to make mask of broken twigs to protect
their faces from bees when they go looking for honey - I say I have
learnt to buy mine from the supermarket. He admits that this is
impressive but points out that he has been selected to be a museum
exhibit, I agree but point out I have my own website. |
|
|
|
|
) I
make my way to the big cats section for a chat with this handsome
jaguar. I praise him on his coat and he tells me that his markings
are a form of camouflage... The only thing I can think that his
pattern will camouflage him against is a minicab driver's seat covers,
but he's beautiful nonetheless. The jaguar is usually quite a
reclusive animal, despite being quite bold in it's display here at the
museum, but they are the largest of the big cats found in the new world
and are ferocious hunters and, as strong swimmers, will stalk their prey
into lakes and rivers for a good meal. I'm not a very good swimmer
myself, so this scares me a little, I think that I'll continue on my way
and try to find a less dangerous cat... |
) ...Though,
a lion probably isn't the way to go! Ah, but this is a lazy
male! Much like with humans, the male lion is a very lazy beast,
sending the female out to do most of the work whilst still claiming the
lion's share of all of the food, as it is the habit that the male will
eat his fill before any of the rest of the pride have the chance to get
a single bite. I can tell that this is a male because he has a
long mane of hair, which often darkens in age, often turning black in
the very oldest males - it is the opposite of the white hair of human
old-age! The lion tells me that I am lucky to catch him whilst he
is awake as lions spend up to 20 hours of the average day
'resting'. Just like me then. |
) For
a moment I think that I am the gift shop, beside a very large teddy
bear, but none of my childhood toys had such a convincing set of deadly
sharp teeth and claws... This is the grizzly bear, and at up to
10ft tall he is quite magnificent. I read that unlike black bears,
who live mostly in trees, grizzlies like to stay on the ground, and so
have developed a far more aggressive temperament. Great.
Well, I can't fight him, and there is no point running as grizzlies can
run as fast as a horse! I don't fancy staying for a chat as he
doesn't look very happy, and among his growls I hear the 'popping' sound
that grizzly bears make with their teeth. So next time you are in
a forest and can hear someone 'cooking popcorn', walk the other way. |
) On
to the grizzly's cousin, the magnificent polar bear. I ask the
majestic ear for a few fascinating facts about himself, and he informs
me that contrary to what my eyes are telling me, his skin is actually
black. I query this and he says that it is his translucent fur
that gives him the appearance of being pure white. I wonder what
brave scientist decided to shave a polar bear to discover this
fact? I tell him that he has a wonderful coat and he tells me that
he always takes care of it, after all he used to be a famous model for
Fox's Glacier Mints. I don't dispute this and ask if he knows any
more polar bear facts, but he can't think of any. Luckily I have
bought a Natural History museum Pencil which tells me that all polar
bears are left handed. |
) |
) |
) |
) |
) |
) |
) |
)
)