Monkey business, and a 3 legged elephant.

Hey, how's it goin?

So, about that elephant I promised you... Prior to my journey to Sihanoukville, I had the opportunity to visit the local zoo with a team. Hmm? No, this was purely a pleasure trip. We weren't renovating the zoo, leading the sun bears in worship service, or teaching the monkeys self defense (like they'd need it!). We came as more of a nice way to relax. It also let me spend a little time with the team from The Mill in Colorado Springs.

I haven't written much about these guys yet due to the detour to the beach, but rest assured, the story will be told.

Baby deer!!!

The zoo, if one wants to be loose with the definition, consisted mostly of animals of questionable health (and sanity, in the case of the monkeys), and a lot of chain link fence. There was single chain - useful apparently for monkeys, crocodiles, and elephants - and double chain, for the bears and lions.

That's right folks! The stuff your neighbor uses to hold back his Scott Terrier? Yep, that's it. :)

At this gathering, we taught the team and the accompanying Cambodians not to feed the monkeys...

As you have already gathered, visiting a zoo here is a little different than back home. In America, zoos allow certain creatures to roam free, such as peacocks, and put the more dangerous ones behind bars (note that I did not say 'rusty chain fence'). Here, the zoo puts the only peacock behind the fence (probably to keep it from being lunch for some wandering hungry person - there aren't many birds in Phnom Penh for a reason), and lets the monkeys roam free. Well, the ones they can't catch, anyway.

Hmm? Why do I talk about the monkeys so much? Ok, lemme give you a rundown, then we'll move forward.

1. Monkeys are thieves. They like to run up to you, slap anything out of your hand, and take off for the jungle. Bye-bye nice iPhone 5!

2. Monkeys are mean. Don't believe me? Try hand feeding one (no.), throwing things at them (again, no.), or walking close to one with food in your hand (Sorry, did you like that appendage? Oops.).

...and this is the monkey they (the Cambodians) immediately started throwing food at.

3. Monkeys don't like to talk about their disabilities. No, really! While walking past a monkey, I asked in surprise "Does that monkey only have 3 feet?!?". I received a reply from a certain red-haired intern (see previous posts) "No, it has two arms and a leg..." she said something after this, but it was overridden by the monkey slamming itself into the cage and grabbing at her. So, just be PC when it comes to monkeys, ok?

Not monkeys.

We headed from there to see some birds. They also had some cool bats, whose cage consisted of a large, ratty tarp and more chain link fencing. They had a few other avian creatures, such as owls and myna birds you could hand feed, but really, bats are cooler.

Wonder if bats can see colors...?

We encountered some various cow and ox-like creatures further in. These, too, you could hand feed (eww, ox slobber!) if you bought something from one of the vendors that constantly follows you from cage to cage. The ice cream guy was fun to have around, but I'm not so sure about the strange-tubers-on-her-hat lady.

Don't eat the bears, folks.

All in all, it was a fun outing getting to know the Mill team one by one. As far as safaris go though, that happened after I got separated from the group.


As it happens, Solomon and a couple of other more adventurous Khmer decided they wanted to go left at a fork that the others went right on. Solomon asked me if I wanted to come.


Well, I'm here to have an adventure, right? So off I went!


My new group led me to see some peculiar-looking animals. They were small - maybe 5 foot end to end - and sat up and begged for food.


Introducing the Sun Bear!

Isn't he cuuuuute?

Yes, technically you can feed the bears (there's a fine line between adventurous and hospital bill, you know) if you can convince a vendor to follow you to one. There's no security here (except at the bathrooms to make sure you pay to use them), so if one of these guys just tugs at your heartstrings...

...I don't really have to tell you no again, do I? :)

Wild Jacob in its natural habitat. Scientific name [Technologicus iPhonus Sapiens].

 We left the bears unfed and uneaten (we follow the rules here, thank you!) and headed to the elephant enclosure. It's there that I got to meet the star of this post, the three-legged elephant.

He's just a baby, with a fake baby-elephant-leg!! :( Not fair.

This chap apparently managed to wander into a trap in the jungle. He was rescued and brought to this zoo, where a new leg was fashioned using what looks to be bicycle tires, coconut husks, and a hollowed out tree with some straps thrown in.



I'll be honest, this lil guy touched my heart. Not just because he's got the pirate leg, but also because he was, you guessed it, hungry.



Apparently this zoo relies on tourists to feed the poor creatures. Anyone with a bunch of money feel free to come over here and buy the place.








We found the rest of the group shortly thereafter, and enjoyed some of the aforementioned ice cream.

Swinging on a vine. Still not a monkey.

In a tree. You guessed it. Not monkeys. (love the shirt though!)

So, how do you wind down an excellent day wandering amongst God's creatures? Why, we do it Cambodian style!

Zzz....

...in rent-a-hammocks! Yes, for the low price of 50 cents, you too can snooze out under a thatch roof in the jungle surrounded by velociraptors... er... cute fuzzy simians. Awesome!

Well, that about wraps it up. There were many animals to see here, even if they were mostly hungry. We left agreeing that the zoo probably wasn't the best place for these creatures. Not much we can do about it though, except to hope that the entrance fee does go toward the upkeep somehow.

Still, the saddest thing of all wasn't the poor elephant...

They just pop right onto the road out of nowhere!

 ...it's the beggars. You see, the road to the zoo is practically paved with them. I spotted at least 20 on the way in and out.

Why is this sad? Because, unlike the pics I've shown you of people missing legs or whatnot, these people were all healthy (when you weren't looking at them). What's more, we were informed that this was the only job they had year round. Begging.

When you come, please check with someone before giving money to a beggar. Some are legit, but many are just trying to scam you in some way. To me, with all the needy here, that's truly sad.

But hey, at least we can do something about the people. That's what the Ministry is for, yeah? If any of you are ever interested in helping the widows, orphans, or the trafficked and abused, shoot me an email. I'll get you in touch with the right people. Ryincambodia@gmail.com.