A half century ago when I was a reporter, I was sent to write a piece on the popular Jungle Habitat wild animal park, a reverse zoo in West Milford, New Jersey. I thought it would be an easy, fun assignment and I took my wife Barbara. We narrowly managed to survive and enjoy the experience.
Warner Brothers of Hollywood owned the Habitat. Perhaps they were following Noah’s boarding plan when they moved in a beastly population of 1,500 that roamed free in the 1,000-acre fenced in forest.
I intended to write an upbeat article about cruising through the forest in a caravan of visitors’ vehicles, listening to a travelogue on the car radio presented by Roger Caras a famous naturalist back then. With the running commentary and the surprising encounters with different animals, big and small, timid and not timid, it was quite exciting. But then the caravan stalled….and a pride of lions began to gather around us.
My article would begin : “The temperature in the car is about 120 degrees. Outside, a cool breeze is blowing through the lush forest but we were told to not open the windows “since eleven lions are now blocking the road.”
Barbara suggested opening a car window on the lionless side, but a commanding voice repeatedly cautioned us over the car radio: “Never open any window!” So we sat and perspired and now and then smiled at a lion who studied the car and its passengers as if we were on a steam table in a smorgasbord restaurant.
The lion never smiled back, but eventually he yawned, a mere six inches away. It was like looking into the Lincoln Tunnel lined with sharp teeth. We should have expected our situation. The guide book had warned “If several lions from the pride amble over to examine your car or even jump on it, don’t be surprised.” Nevertheless, they jumped and we were surprised.
Finally, the lion blockade departed and we felt relieved until Roger Caras announced, “Keep moving. The elephant herd is waiting around the next bend.”
“Oh good! We love elephants,” I said to Barbara.
“But do elephants jump on cars?” she asked.
They didn’t, but it would have been a really strange insurance claim.
Imagine That 