We're goin' to the zoo, zoo, zoo How about you, you, you?

May 21 is Endangered Species Day: play a game with wild animals in it.

Thirty years ago I read a book in which a handful of endangered species were described ("Last Chance to See"). It's fun to read, but leaves you sad. Getting to know more about some animals, then realizing you will never, ever get to see them.

Fortunately, the number of threatened species has grown explosively in the meantime. I mean, if the numbers for nearly extinct animals and plants are like four or five times higher by now, I've got a bigger chance of seeing one, right? 👍 Keep it up.

In reality, I still won't see them as I prefer not to fly. I'm not afraid of it, but I am one of those people with all kind of objections to consumer air travel. So, where to go to satisfy my biodiverse curiousity? To the zoo!

If you ever are feeling happy and are in a good mood, do visit a zoo. You'll be cured in no time. Small enclosures, apathic animals, you name it, they've got it. Or, used to have it, as more and more zoos get a spaceous makeover, which makes visiting doable. And anyway, sometimes it's the choice between two evils. Because zoos can and do play an important role in preservation of species.

To celebrate, I played a game about a fictional zoo. With real cool animeeples.

I'd played this game once, with my daughter, so this was my first solo session. It took me almost three times as long as is written on the box. I had to think so long before making a move. Planning, and counting, and looking ahead, and recounting, and checking an alternative, thinking, going for the first thought anyway. And again. For some people this must be heaven, but after I'd finally finished, and had won with exactly 0 (zero) points, I was tempted to make it my last solo try as well.

We'll see. Like I said, I love the animeeples. And I like polyominoes as well. This game just takes a bit too much brainpower at the moment. :)