So many things about this world break my heart and I find it increasingly hard to live in it.
The leopard is beautiful. But did you see how scared it was, looking around at all the people with a wild look in its eyes? How it must feel not being in its natural habitat? I don't understand how we got to a place where wild animals have to be taken into human habitats to be protected as the entire rest of the natural world gets violated and plundered. I'm glad people do this work, don't get me wrong, because it's necessary. I just wish it wasn't. I get so pissed off. I'm pissed off right now.
But thank you for sharing. What a beautiful creature.
I met a cheetah when I was in early high school, probably around grade 8 or 9. They were doing a tour and brought it to our school to raise awareness (I believe at that time - I don't know if it's changed - cheetahs were on the endangered species list) and I got to pet it. It was just lying there on its platform purring, a magnificent creature - sounded like a lawnmower! What an amazing experience just to get to pet it. After that I went to work, creating a petition to send to the government to create or support laws put in place to protect cheetahs. I got lots of signatures for that little town, and I went to send them off and I asked my dad to help me figure out where to send it. He told me there was no point since nobody would care anyway and they probably wouldn't even read it. I was heartbroken. I just cried and cried. It hasn't stopped me from activism; I'm still involved in a bunch of causes. But he's not entirely wrong. So many people turn a blind eye to what's happening, even today when evidence is rampant.
Being in the activist community, I know a lot of amazing people who do very good, difficult, challenging work but can still remain a fair level of optimism about the ability of people to change. I wish I could say I had the same outlook. But I will keep doing the work.
Thanks for sharing. Pretty kitty.