Eye of the Tiger

ByThe Skeptical Traveler

The place was Taronga Zoo, Sydney. It was closing time but I did not listen to the announcements that asked visitors to start heading to the exit. I had arrived late (as usual when I visit something) and wanted to cover as much as possible. Towards the end of the opening hours I was practically running from one place to another, trying to make out the instructions on the map in order to find the kangaroos. One cannot visit Australia without seeing kangaroos – so far, I’d only seen them in the form of steaks in the grocery store.

After seeing them, I ran back to the tiger’s enclosure for “the confrontation”. There was no one else around. It was almost surreal, just me and the tiger. He was sleeping so I started using my telepathic powers: I sent the tiger messages informing him that I was finally there, ready to confront him, and I did not know what fear meant.

The tiger must have felt my powerful presence because he woke up and looked at me. I looked into his eyes and he held my gaze. I did not take even one step back, instead I transfixed him with steely eyes. Mere words cannot do justice to the intense drama of this scene.

Finally the tiger could stand no longer my unwavering stare, and he closed his eyes in defeat and went back to sleep.

The image shows a serene outdoor scene with a wooden table placed in a lush garden. The garden is filled with various green plants and tall bamboo trees, creating a tranquil and shaded environment. Sunlight filters through the foliage, casting dappled light on the ground and the table. The overall atmosphere is peaceful and natural.
The tiger wakes up
A tiger is lying on a wooden platform in a lush, green environment surrounded by dense bamboo and other vegetation. There is a small pond in the foreground, and sunlight filters through the foliage, creating a serene and natural setting.
The confrontation
A tiger is lying on a wooden platform in a shaded area surrounded by dense greenery and bamboo plants. The scene appears to be in a zoo or a wildlife sanctuary. The tiger is resting and appears relaxed in its environment.
Acknowledging defeat (back to sleep)

At that moment I felt the song Eye of the Tiger by Survivor was for me too:

 

The image shows a zoo or wildlife enclosure with several kangaroos. The enclosure has a reddish-brown ground and is surrounded by a fence and some trees. There are buildings and a tall structure visible in the background. The kangaroos are either standing or lying on the ground, and the area is partially shaded by the trees.

The image shows a zoo enclosure with a kangaroo standing on a sandy ground. The enclosure has various trees and plants, as well as some large pieces of wood and logs scattered around. The background is filled with dense greenery, indicating a naturalistic habitat for the animals. The lighting suggests it is a sunny day.

A koala is hugging a tree trunk while sleeping. The koala has its eyes closed and appears to be comfortably resting. The background shows a corrugated metal wall and a roof.

The image shows two koalas on a tree branch. One koala is sitting higher up on the branch, holding onto it with its front paws, while the other koala is lower down, appearing to be resting or sleeping. The tree is surrounded by green leaves, and the background includes a corrugated metal wall.

A koala is resting on a tree branch surrounded by green leaves. The koala appears to be sleeping or in a relaxed state, with its eyes closed and body comfortably positioned against the tree. The background includes some foliage and a partially visible structure.

A lizard is perched on a piece of wood in a naturalistic setting. The background features a painted sky with some clouds and a landscape that appears to be a desert or arid environment. The lizard is facing away from the camera, and its long tail is visible. The scene includes rocks and branches, creating a habitat-like environment for the lizard.

A giraffe is standing near a wooden fence, with its head and neck extending above the fence. There are trees with green leaves in the background, and part of a building with a slanted roof is visible behind the giraffe. The scene appears to be outdoors on a sunny day.

The image shows a large lizard, possibly a monitor lizard, in a terrarium. The lizard has a patterned skin with a mix of yellow and dark spots. The terrarium has a sandy floor, some rocks, and green plants. The background includes a rocky wall, suggesting a desert or arid habitat.

The image shows a display at a zoo or museum featuring a "Fierce Snake," also known as the Inland Taipan. The snake is inside a glass enclosure that mimics its natural habitat, with a sandy, rocky terrain and sparse vegetation. The snake is visible, stretched out along the ground. There is an informational sign above the enclosure that describes the snake as the world's most venomous land snake, noting that its bite can contain enough venom to kill 100,000 mice. The background of the enclosure is painted to resemble an arid landscape.

A peacock is standing on the steps in front of a building with large glass doors. The building has wooden frames around the doors and windows. To the left, there is a green vending machine or kiosk with some text and logos on it. The peacock's tail feathers are spread out behind it as it stands on the pavement.

The image shows a desert-like enclosure with sandy ground, rocks, and dry wooden logs. There are a few small animals, possibly meerkats, standing on their hind legs and looking around. In the background, there is a white wall and some desert plants, including a spiky green plant. The scene is well-lit with sunlight casting shadows on the ground.

The image shows a rocky outdoor enclosure with various large rocks and boulders. There are some trees and vegetation growing among the rocks, and the area is enclosed by a wire fence. The lighting suggests it is daytime, with sunlight filtering through the trees.

The image shows packages of meat displayed in a refrigerated section of a grocery store. The packages have labels with images of cooked meat and text. One of the labels reads "Good for you, good for the environment." The meat is packaged in black plastic trays with clear plastic covers.

The image shows several packages of kangaroo mince meat stacked on a shelf. The packaging is predominantly yellow with some red and white text. The label on the front of the packages reads "Kangaroo Mince" and indicates a weight of 1 kg.

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