Some of the history

_Elsa_

Rachel calls Tiffi but gets her voicemail so she leaves her a message. She goes back to reading more about the zoos. 

‘Humans placed animals on display long before they strolled through the entrance gates of zoological parks. In fact, the birth of the menagerie (a collection of wild animals for the purpose of exhibition) began with the birth of the city. Menageries emerged with them as symbols of power and wealth. 

Whoever wielded power in the ancient world (whether Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Indian, Chinese, Greek, Roman, Persian, Arab, or Mesoamerican) also established collections of exotic animals in order to display their wealth, status, imperial ambition, and military might. When Hittite kings displayed lions, tigers, wolves, leopards and bears; when Egyptian Queen Hatshepsut displayed rhinoceroses, giraffes, and greyhounds; when Emperor Wu Di displayed elephants, yak, giant pandas, cormorants, and herons; and when Montezuma displayed jaguars, eagles, and snakes, what they really displayed was their ability to conquer their enemies, conquer geography, and conquer nature. 

For most of their history, menageries were crude establishments where collections of animals lived short lives in small cages. Yet as cities multiplied, so did the number of animals behind bars. 

When the ancient, medieval, and early-modern upper classes fell in love with captive animals, they forged a global trade in animal commodities. To their eyes, exotic creatures from faraway lands appeared luxurious and spectacular. No king would be worthy of his crown without an elephant or a zebra on hand.

While merchants captured, shipped, and sold legions of animals to these royal collections, traveling fairs carted elephants, rhinoceroses, giraffes, and hippopotamuses from town to town for local entertainment. 

Exploration and empire-building expanded the reach and symbolic importance of the menagerie. Exotic animals became the playthings of empires. In 1493, 1494, and 1496, Christopher Columbus, for example, gave sixty parrots and a macaw to Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand, setting a precedent for stocking European menageries with New World animals.’ (Source) 

Rachel’s phone rings and it’s Tiffi calling her back. 

“Hi Rachel, what’s up?” asks Tiffi. 

Rachel asks her if she’d like to go to the zoo with her. She is bored and everything for the wedding has been done. Tiffi likes the idea and they discuss when they can get together. Tiffi wants to know if she should call other characters to see if they are interested. Rachel suggests that they make it a girl’s thing.  Tiffi says that she’ll call Olivia, Misty and Jelly Queen to ask if they are interested. 

Let’s continue - A bit more of the history

Start at the beginning – The girls go to the zoo