L.A. Zoo shows romantic side of nature
The wild dating habits, passionate necking and cohabitation began a day early this Valentine’s Day week.
On Sunday, the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association presented “Sex and the City Zoo 2,” a romantic and provocative evening for all couples.
The day was dedicated to talking about romantic unions in the animal kingdom. The talk also attempted to solve the age-long question of whether a relationship is necessary.
The reception began in sophisticated style with an acoustic guitarist plucking out “Für Elise,” while an assortment of savory and delicate desserts decorated the tables. The cultured atmosphere was complete with a tiny bar to the side.
The real distraction was neither the food nor the drinks, but an adorable armadillo and a small, sleeping porcupine.
Couples surrounded the two show-stealers, ooh-ing and aw-ing while their handlers presented them.
Not only is Valentine’s Day a time to show that special someone love and affection, it’s also a day when couples have the special opportunity to exhibit their creativity and intelligence, particularly in their choice of date location.
One such innovative couple was Mike Miller and Stephanie Scher of Los Feliz, both members of GLAZA.
“It’s a very interesting subject matter and a way to beat the crowds [at the restaurants],” Scher said.
But the program was no regular day at the zoo.
The entertaining and very informative presentation definitely met Scher and Miller’s expectations.
Jason Jacobs, L.A. Zoo’s director of public relations and marketing, supplied the night’s entertainment, using a slideshow presentation unlike any professor at USC.
His lecture, complete with one-of-a-kind photos, discussed animal mating and dating habits, some of which are suprisingly similar to our own human actions and attitudes.
To start off, Jacobs discussed the pros and cons of staying single and solitary versus dating or participating in social groups.
“One of the advantages of being single is that you can do things and come and go as you please, within reason,” Jacobs said.
But whether human or animal, having a companion or being social also has its life-and-death advantages.
“If you are a member of a herd, you only have to be quicker than the slowest member so you don’t perish becoming dinner to a predator like a lion,” Jacobs said.
Jacobs shared the interesting methods animals use to attract their mates. When it comes to the American bison, the male can tell if a female bison is in heat based on how her urine tastes. The scent of a male bull’s urine also contributes to a female bull’s ovulation.
Yet there are still hilarious connections between the human and animal kingdom is their strategies in attracting the opposite sex.
The African kob exhibits human-like attributes when choosing a potential mate. Jacobs compared the kob’s strategy of mating in a “Lek” to that of the atmosphere of a modern nightclub or bar.
“[Male kobs’] posture, they spar, they have various positions they take up and usually the males in the middle of the Lek are the strongest and the most fit,” Jacobs said.
This sounds curiously similar to the break-dancer who impresses all the ladies by taking the spotlight in the center of the dance mosh pit.
Throughout the evening, Jacobs related some animal mating habits that were both shocking and disturbing.
One example was a picture of a very large, dangling elephant genetilia, which caused quite a ruckus of laughter.
“Unlike other 16 year olds, I wasn’t giggling when I saw this,” Jacobs said when describing when he took it. “I was like, ‘Wow.’ I’ve always wanted to work with animals. You see the good and the bad.”
On a more serious note, Jacobs related how rhinos can be so violent when trying to impregnate a female that in some cases, the females are killed.
“If things got too hairy we would drive a pick up truck in between the rhinos to separate them,” Jacobs said.
The evening wrapped up with a silly survey called, “What Type of Lover You Are,” when the audience members could find which animal corresponds with their sexual personality.
The audience was a mix of gibbons, a type of ape that lives in monogamous pairs, and gorillas, the ape who doesn’t sleep with the same female twice.
For first dates, this was definitely not the average small talk.