When I was at university completing my postgraduate diploma in broadcast journalism, my final project required a trip to London. Specifically the London Zoo. 

I was researching the breeding of tigers in captivity by conservationist zoological societies. I wanted to understand the impact human development had on tigers, the depletion of their natural habitat and whether it would be possible to reintroduce young tigers born and raised in zoos, to the wild. 

As I was based in Sheffield, I had to make all my arrangements before the journey from South Yorkshire to London. Being a student I was on my own dime, on a tight budget, and I could not afford to spend too many days in the expensive capital on accommodation, meals, transport and borrowed equipment from university. 

I was excited to go, but conservative in my expectations about the experience. The British are generally media savvy. After all, this is the home of the BBC. Company spokespersons are trained in strategic communications and the average person on the street is always willing to offer an opinion about the latest political debate. So, while I was only a fledgling student, just stretching my journalist wings, people I interviewed or filmed were kind and patient despite my nervousness. I was humbled they gave me the light of day at the zoo with its management being so busy.

My pokey hotel room was a long walk from the zoo situated at one end of Regent’s Park. I felt an exhilaration as I moved through the park at the beginning of spring. Though I had travelled extensively by then, it was always during the hottest month of the year in India – May – and so I was often greeted by warm temperatures in Europe and North America (notwithstanding the occasional spring shower). After living in England through some cold, dry and mostly miserable months, this was the first time I really understood the meaning of four seasons and the slaking of a thirst for the sun and its bounty.

As I walked, I saw storks fly towards nests suspended like beehives from trees growing on an island in the middle of a large pond. A group of men in blue and red shirts played football in a far corner. A few new mummies pushed their sleeping infants at leisure. Dogs fetched balls and sticks, flowers poked out of green hiding. Everything held moist promise.

The park is massive, as is usual for most London parks. The zoo is spread across a few acres nearer the neighbourhood of Camden in the north west. I had to find my way mostly by park signage and asking people directions since it was before Google made things easy. 

The bulk of the recording equipment I carried, along with the weather and the exercise made for a long, hot walk. By the time I arrived at the zoo and was ushered in to meet the Director of Conservation, I looked more like I needed temporary housing with the polar bears and an ice cream from the zoo’s cafe. After a cold soda and a few minutes we had a wonderful discussion about the zoo’s conservation efforts and the various levels of success amongst different species. The interview went well, she was articulate with an interesting voice, gave great soundbites, she had done this before and her confidence allowed me to relax a little. 

After the interview the director asked if I’d like to speak to the main warden in charge of the tigers, ask him a bit about their habits, his thoughts on conservation etc. I had come to the zoo expecting only to speak to the director and then leave for a subsequent interview with a representative of the World Wildlife Fund. To get as objective a view as possible the script needed a balance of opinions. I did not envision the domino effect of the kindness of others and the networking factor. After all, there was nothing in it for them at the zoo – I was only a poor student, cobbling together a radio documentary for school. 

I hurried along to the tiger enclosure where the warden was waiting for me, ahead of his rounds of feeding the tigers their lunch. My hands wrapped around the mike aimed towards him while he spoke, as we sat at at a bench nearby, the two tigers awake and ravenous, in full view, I felt I was in a dream. And then it got better. He asked if I wanted to go into the back of the enclosure to meet the adult male. He was kept separate from the females before feeding time and given a larger meal. My head almost exploded with joy.

—— continues in part 2 ——

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hello! I’m Peri Desai

I’m Peri, welcome to my space. In it you will find stuff that moves me, maddens me, captures my attention, makes me question its truth. You will read what makes me curious, annoyed, energized, joyful, vulnerable.