Captivity

Animals speak through their eyes.

It may come as no surprise that I enjoy photographing wildlife, particularly in the wild. But I rarely come across moose or wolves or even deer roaming free, anymore. Occasionally a moose will wander into the city, and cause a traffic nightmare, and eventually get euthanized. So we know they're still out there, somewhere, but they are becoming more and more scarce (especially when they get euthanized).

I decided this past fall to travel to Omega Park, a zone in the Gatineau Hills where captive Canadian wildlife roam in fenced-in areas. I'll let the photos do most of the talking.

(Click on the carousel for a more detailed look.)

Deer Accepts a Carrot

Arctic Fox

Deer and Boar

Gray Wolves

Red Deer

Sleepy Gray Wolf

Black Bear

It's fascinating to observe the captives' eyes. Their expressions range from melancholy to belligerent to quite content, since they have an endless supply of food. (Most of the content creatures were the deer.)

It was so unusual to see Arctic foxes climbing into a treehouse instead of peering over snowdrifts on the tundra.

These animals have adapted, although their eyes still look haunted. Perhaps captivity will be the only road to their survival, as more species dwindle and are extinguished from existence. But I still prefer to see wildlife in their natural habitat, untamed, free to wander, run or fly, without confined habitats and wire in their way.

I took this photo of a barred owl in an urbanized woods near our home. It still hunts and flies undeterred, even though we encroach on its territory. It is only wary of the camera, not the cage. I can stalk it, gaze at it, offer it food, but if it gets weary of me, it will simply fly away.