ANIMAL PRAGMATICS

The ‘Big Five’ and 100+ other interesting animalsin Dutch and Belgian animal parks

presented with a haiku flavour

Harry Hauptmeijer

‘BIG FIVE’

Animal Pragmatics

The ‘Big Five’ and 100+ other interestinganimals in Dutch and Belgian Zoos

presented with a haiku flavour

Harry Hauptmeijer

Challenge the existing to achieve the best

Content

1. Safety - the highest priority 112. The ‘Big Five’ 123. Lion 134. Elephant 145. Leopard or panther 156. Rhinoceros 167. African Buffalo 178. Giraffe 189. Chimpansee 1910. Japanese Crane 2011. Cheetah 2112. Alligator, Crocodile 2213. Brown Bear 2314. Polar Bear 2515. Owl 2616. Eagle 2717. Turtle 2818. Dolphin 2919. Shark 3020. Bonobo 3121. Lion Fish 3222. Red Fox 3323. Llama 3424. Tiger 3525. Sloth 3726. American Bison 3827. Tapir 3928. Wild Boar 4029. Butterfly 4130. Meerkat 4231. Reindeer or Caribou 4332. Flamingo 4433. Ring-tailed Lemur 4534. Okapi or Forest Giraffe 4635. Alpine Ibex or Steenbok 4736. Parrot 4837. Beaver 4938. Giant African Snail 5039. Big Snakes 5140. Walrus 52

Content - continued

41. Zebra 5342. Donkey 5443. Jaguar 5544. Gnu or Wildebeest 5645. Giant Panda 5746. Red Panda 5947. Hippopotamus 6048. Red River Hog 6149. Yak 6250. Ostrich 6351. Camel 6452. Dromedary 6553. Lynx 6654. Tarantula 6755. Przewalski Horse 6856. Sea Lion 6957. Frog 7058. Wolf 7159. Orang-utan 7260. Kangaroo and Wallaby 7361. Gorilla 7462. Hyena 7563. Penguin 7664. Vulture 7765. Musk Ox 7866. Alpaca 7967. Bongo 8168. Baboon 8269. Walking Stick 8370. Leaf Monkey 8471. Koi 8572. Lizard 8673. Anemone or Clown Fish 8774. Capybara 8875. Leguaan 8976. Mandrill 9077. Milk Snake 9178. Luwak 9379. Seal 9480. Piranha 95

Content - continued

81. Bearded Dragon 9682. Capuchin 9783. Wood Duck 9884. Scarlet Ibis 9985. Hornbill 10086. Cleaner Shrimp 10187. Kingfisher 10288. African Wild Dog 10389. Lory 10490. Porcupine 10591. Sea Horse 10792. Tamarin 10893. Toucan 10994. Prairie dog 11095. Vicuna 11196. Gila Monster 11297. Clouded Leopard 11398. Golden-headed Lion Tamarin 11499. Fiddler Crab 115100. Sea Cow 116101. Golden Jackal 117102. Java Sparrow 118103. Gecko 119104. Cotton-top Tamarin 120105. Pygmy Hippopotamus 121106. Japanese Macaque 122107. Giant Anteater 123108. Serval 124109. Stingray 125110. Grey or Hanuman Langur 126111. Cockroach 127112. Chameleon 128113. Gibbon 129114. Kudu 130115. Colobus 131116. Barbary Macaque 132117. Red Ruffed Lemur 133118. Ankole-Watusi 135119. Koala 137120. Zensations 138121. ‘Bonus’ Animal Photos 140122. Photo - Zoo References 142123. Visited Zoos 143124. References and Inspiration 144

Animal Pragmatics

Introduction

Animals Pragmatics shows the “Big Five” and 100+ other interesting animals in Dutch and Belgian animal parks. It is made with a tourist look with an understanding of sustainability and preservation, while at the same time enjoying our ‘wildlife’. Animal Pragmatics strives to answer the most frequently asked questions in zoos.

My thanks go to the Dutch and Belgian animal parks and to the many dedicated animal keepers and volunteers with their infectious enthusiasm and who are always ready to explain and give information. An extra motivation to compose Animal Pragmatics.

Animals Pragmatics is written as a hobby. It is “fun” to observe animals and to puzzle with words to write appropriate haikus. It is my wish that you pick up this book once in a while, enjoy reading and watching and be inspired to go (even more often) to the educational and beautiful Dutch and Belgian animal parks.

Harry Hauptmeijer

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1. Safety - the highest priority

Visitors, staff andMembers should all return homeSafely and healthy

Everybody shouldBe concerned with safety andAlert each other

When visiting zoosWe are very much awareOf health and safety

Zoos feed animalsKids are not on the menuWatch and keep kids safe

Super dangerousAnimals need more warnings And safety measures

We need a cultureOf intervention and toDevelop these skills

Safety is mainlyAdvanced by our attitudeAnd our behaviour

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2. The ‘Big Five’

Elephant, LionBuffalo, Leopard, Rhino, Who’s your favourite?

This most impressiveGroup of animals is theMost endangered too

Threats are everywhereOur survival is intenseWe need your support

We are Africa’sEconomic power house

Tourists adore us

Our habitat isNatural, no cities, streets,Only green, brown, blue

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3. Lion

King of the jungleIs powerful and mighty,Master of his field

Beautiful creatureWith impressive face and manes, While roars carry far

This social figureLives in prides, the ladiesAre slim and faster

The King defends hisTerritory, the ladiesHunt, care for the cubs

The cubs are lovely,We love to take them homeBut that is naïve!

IntimidatingFearless, proud, paralysingA strong pride leader

Lying and sleepingListening, playing, huntingThat’s a lion’s life

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4. Elephant

Famous for my tusks,Trunk and memory, I amGrey and very large

My immense powerAnd wisdom make me feel tooStrong for this jungle

When I blink my eyesI look adorable andAccessible too

My feet are heavyAnd sensitive, I don’t crushThe weak and small ones

We are familyIn the morning sun our tusksAre bright and shining

My trumpet reachesThe far end of the jungleThat’s my message

I love the waterAnd my special shower tooPlease, watch and enjoy

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5. Leopard or panther

This proud jungle catIs very muscular andA great tree climber

I use my tail toBalance, by my strong jaws ICarry my prey up

My yellowish coatCovered by black rosettes makesMe well camouflaged

I run fast, swim, leap,Jump high, and can handle aWide array of prey

Accelerating,Very silent and deadly,No prey can escape

Savannah, grass andWoodlands, rain forest, I amVery adaptive

Me resting overTree branches or rocks is yourFavourite picture

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6. Rhinoceros

Huge ancient creatureOne or two horns, big and grey, Thick skin and dinky tail

I live in grass lands,Rainforests and like waterWallow in the mud

The companionshipOf rhinos and oxpeckersDoes benefit both

Do not poach my horn,It is not for medicine,Pleasure or money

My horn is nail orHorse hoof stuff, without anyMystical feature

My food is grass, leaves, Vegetation, which I eatIn my solitude

My world shrinks quicklyExtinction is foreverAnimals matter

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My face looks friendlyMy temper is dangerousBe always alert!

My artistic hornsAre deceiving, my weight isHigh, my power great

I live in grasslands,Forests, savannahs and swampsI do graze quickly

We live in a herdAnd like to spar for play whileOur calves may join

Our sound signals areSimple but clear, the femalesSet our directions

Young calves are hiddenIn grass and bush, older onesLive in the herd center

My horns are called a‘Boss’, which explains everything about my nature

7. African Buffalo

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8. Giraffe

I am as tall as One can get; overseeing theGlory of the world

White coat with brown spots An amazing piece of artGraceful and gentle

My head in the skyThere is no limit to eat leavesI use my long tongue

With my long neck andLegs I stand far above all Other animals

If you enter myDomain, I use my strong legsTo kick with power

I do not sleep much,Whip my head to fight giraffesSpread my legs to drink

I give birth standingUp, my baby drops on theHard ground and gets up…

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My behaviour isComplex, we apply helpfulTools like stones and sticks

We solve conflicts andReconcile, we form frequentBest coalitions

Our sharp yell and strongMacho image does not stopUs to harmonize

Using sign language And sounds we communicateAdoption is familiar

Our common diseaseIs hydrophobia whichWe are working on

Our main food includesFruits, leaves, bugs; we like youTo watch us eating

We are very closeTo the human race but stillHave large steps to go

9. Chimpansee