Another Tiny, Adorable Distraction
Right, so Oakland Zoo is thrilled. Thrilled! Apparently, a red-tailed monkey has graced their facilities with its presence. A birth! How utterly… predictable. Because what we really needed was another reason to feel vaguely good about ourselves while simultaneously contributing to the ongoing spectacle of captive animals.
Lets be honest, folks, how many pictures of fuzzy primates do we need? Is this really solving any pressing global issues? Are we addressing deforestation, habitat loss, or the frankly terrifying state of biodiversity? No! We’re celebrating a baby monkey. A red-tailed monkey, no less – like that detail truly elevates it above all other births occurring anywhere on the planet.
The press release probably gushes about “conservation efforts” and enrichment programs.” Please. Its adorable, Im sure! The children will squeal with delight. But underneath the surface of this heartwarming narrative lies a deeply uncomfortable truth: we’re distracting ourselves from the systemic problems that led to these animals needing zoos in the first place.
I fully expect an outpouring of “awws” and carefully curated Instagram stories featuring this little primate, while the real work – the challenging, messy work of protecting its wild counterparts – continues to be neglected. Fantastic. Just…fantastic.
