Taking a trip to the zoo as a child was always accompanied by feelings of enchantment and curiosity. But when I introduced my own children to our local zoo, Reptilandia, I started to recall the uncomfortable feelings of anger, solitude, and sadness that were ever present during these trips as well.  Children naturally express and enormous amount of compassion and empathy for other living creatures. While my children were immensely overjoyed running around observing the turtles, snakes, and crocodiles the harsh reality of lifetime incarceration remained an ever present theme. Through this series I attempt to capture the full spectrum of emotion that accompanied our visits to Reptilandia.

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