As forests diminish it is not only trees and other plants which disappear. The animals which are a part of the chain of life also suffer from this tragedy: birds which nested in their branches, squirrels which hid in their trunks, bears which fed on honey made by wild bees, and countless other creatures lose their habitats. Reading about them in encyclopaedias and watching TV documentaries does not bring home the true extent of this loss like seeing them in real life.
Zoos display what are sometimes the last living examples of this natural diversity which is rapidly being swept from the face of the earth. Bogaziçi Zoo and Botanical Park at Darica, 40 kilometres east of Istanbul, is one of these. The first thing you see as you enter is a life-like dinosaur! A reminder of the danger of extinction that threatens so many species today. Wandering on through the zoo, you see a cheetah, the fastest animal on earth, sunning itself, monkeys swinging on ropes, and peacocks spreading their splendid tails in glittering fans. Children run ahead of their parents shouting with delight, and exclaiming at the sight of each new animal.