Earth Day is one of the days that gives us the opportunity to reflect on our activities and how positively or negatively they affect Mother Earth. Earth Day generally falls on April 22, three days short of my birthday.

This particular year, I thought very hard of what I could do to make the day memorable and a thought came to my head I will visit the zoo. Weird right?

My visit to the zoo was not only for sight seeing but to make observations and give advice to the caretakers. The issue of keeping animals in cages is a sensitive topic and going for or against it can be justified.

Animal activists will always advocate that animals be allowed to roam about freely in their natural habitat but since it is a university environment (University of Nigeria, Nsukka precisely), keeping animals in cages so that people will have a chance of seeing these animals and learn about them is also justified. It is also a way of preserving endangered specie. Where then do I come in?

My contribution/advice to the caretakers was that they should ensure that the animals are kept in an environment that would mimic their natural habitat as much as possible rather than just stuffing them in cages where they would growl in isolation and boredom. I also told them the need to feed these animals properly.

At the end of the trip, I joined a host of others to walk down the road rather than taking a taxi (or as it is called here, UNN Shuttle). It was both an epiphany and exhilarating expedition. Happy Earth Day.