Sure, there were babies born to other, perhaps more cuddly animals this year. And some of those animals have funny names — if you're of the Beavis & Butt-Head persuasion and involuntarily giggle every time you hear the word "ass." But there's only one polar bear remaining at the Saint Louis Zoo. In the wild, the polar bear is solitary by choice. But our bear has had solitude thrust upon it. Half a world from where it belongs, the lone representative of its species — the only bear in the world as far as it can determine. Many people never know the crushing isolation of being the only unmatched face in the crowd. But those who know loneliness recognize a kindred spirit when they see the polar bear. These are the ones — and it's always in ones — who linger by the bear pit, and watch in respectful silence, and walk away at last feeling something more than sorrow.
Bactrian Camel
| Sep 25, 2014
Dead Leaf Mantis
| Sep 26, 2013
Black-tailed prairie dog
| Sep 27, 2012
Hippopotamus
| Sep 22, 2011
Coquerel's Sifaka
| Sep 29, 2010
Bleeding-Heart Dove
| Sep 30, 2009
Ozark hellbender
| Sep 26, 2007
Henrietta the prairie dog
| Sep 27, 2006
Malayan sun bear
| Sep 29, 2005
Giant anteater
| Sep 29, 2004
Giant anteater
| Sep 29, 2004
Takin
| Sep 24, 2003
Takin
| Sep 24, 2003