Maestro
Jul-30-2006, 08:56 AM
Parick is a young teenager. From the pic, you will see that he is a Lowlands Silverback gorilla. I honestly have never been this close to any gorilla much less so close that I can smell the acrid odor he gives off. Nevertheless, it was an incredible experience. Patrick was very curious. He was especially mystified by human feet. The visitors to this area of the Dallas Zoo soon figured out that Patrick had this "foot fetish" as many people were wearing sandals and such. He would stop and analyze feet very intently and if the person wiggled his or her toes, he would sometimes look at his own hand and move his fingers. It was quite incredible. It is very strange to look into the eyes of an animal and see so much personality. Of course, I realize all higher animals have a personality. I can see that in the dogs and cats I have had. However, to look into Patrick's eyes and see how much he is like me was simply a stunning experience. I now know why so many passionate people try to save these guys as others are so dedicated to so many animals. Our wildlife is truly precious.
I only wish this series was better but Patrick would not go out into the wide-open so I could take pictures of him without having a glass wall between us and he would move very quickly so some of the shots show quite a bit of motion blur. Anyway, I like the pics because of his facial expressions. I swear in some he is smiling. He seemed very happy and loved to play with the visitors. I was and I am still amazed.
Meet Patrick.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Patrick_full_body.jpg
Cropped
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Patrick_full_body_cropped.jpg
Up close
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Patrick_close.jpg
Walking towards me
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Portait_Patrick.jpg
Developing a foot fetish. He would get on his side and try to look under the feet of different people.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Patrick_on_side.jpg
Look at the fascination in the boy's eyes behind Patrick.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Patrick_is_fascinating.jpg
I swear he is smiling here.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Patrick_smiling_cropped.jpg
This wierd pic is of Patrick analyzing my wife's foot of which you can see the reflection in the glass.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Patrick_and_the_foot.jpg
Still analyzing
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Patrick_admiring_foot.jpg
All in all, Patrick was really fun. I plan on going back and visiting him when it is cooler so that I can get some pics of him in the wide open spaces instead of behind glass.
His other friends were hiding under leaves trying to keep cool.
I only wish this series was better but Patrick would not go out into the wide-open so I could take pictures of him without having a glass wall between us and he would move very quickly so some of the shots show quite a bit of motion blur. Anyway, I like the pics because of his facial expressions. I swear in some he is smiling. He seemed very happy and loved to play with the visitors. I was and I am still amazed.
Meet Patrick.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Patrick_full_body.jpg
Cropped
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Patrick_full_body_cropped.jpg
Up close
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Patrick_close.jpg
Walking towards me
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Portait_Patrick.jpg
Developing a foot fetish. He would get on his side and try to look under the feet of different people.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Patrick_on_side.jpg
Look at the fascination in the boy's eyes behind Patrick.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Patrick_is_fascinating.jpg
I swear he is smiling here.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Patrick_smiling_cropped.jpg
This wierd pic is of Patrick analyzing my wife's foot of which you can see the reflection in the glass.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Patrick_and_the_foot.jpg
Still analyzing
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/Patrick_admiring_foot.jpg
All in all, Patrick was really fun. I plan on going back and visiting him when it is cooler so that I can get some pics of him in the wide open spaces instead of behind glass.
His other friends were hiding under leaves trying to keep cool.