ANIMALS

Animals beg to be photographed—-pets, like cats and dogs, want to be remembered in the pantheon of their predecessors. Thus, I have opened with cats, most of them ours.  They’re always near which offers so many moments.  A few dogs follow—one from India. The rest, beginning with a lamb from Wales fifty years ago, The rest were taken from the Galapagos to Saudi Arabia to Italy to South Africa—and back.

The only photo that carries a story is the baboon. 

Driving near Cape Town, we passed signs warning of baboons ahead.  “They are not pets.”  We came upon a family on a dirt siding, so we pulled over—-rolling up the windows.  Within seconds, an alpha-male was sitting in our back seat, with his very large head between us.”  In a moment he was off, carrying binoculars, clothing, a camera and documents.  His mate and kids came running and made off with some of the loot.  I got out, thinking I could threaten him away.  I took a step toward him; he took a step toward me.  Finally, my brilliant wife found a box of Altoids and began chumming him further from what was left of our belongings, allowing just enough time to gather up what was left.

A ranger with a whip finally came to our rescue.