Zoo Animals In Rhyme (1965)

[music] [music] [music] >> This is a lion who lives in a zoo. I'm sure that he doesn't seem wild to you. Yet he's often ferocious and frightening, too. So why is he quiet today in the zoo? I hope he's not sick. Yet he seems to be fine. His whiskers seem perky. His eyes seem to shine. His ears seem alert for the tiniest [music] sound. But his tail is all that is moving around. Won't he open his mouth and then let out a roar? I know he can do it. He's done it before. Well, I can't explain why he's quiet. Can you? Oh, why is he quiet today in the zoo? He's not like the monkeys. They're active, I'd say. Their cage is the busiest place here today. They make so much noise. Is something the matter? No, it's only the noise we call monkey chatter. If you wonder why monkeys are usually small, it's just because monkeys don't grow very tall. Why even the biggest ones here at the zoo aren't even as big as the smallest of you. Monkeys have hands and monkeys have feet. But they can use either of them when they eat. A monkey's long fingers are much like his toes. I don't think I'd like it if mine were like those. A monkey has one thing that people have not. That thing is the long curly tail that he's got. It helps him hold on when he climbs or he swings. For monkeys, I guess, tails are valuable things. This baby baboon is like babies I know who cling to their mothers wherever they go. So, here are the monkeys so busy at play. They climb toward each other and then swing away. They're noisily frolicsome, mischievous, sly. But, the lion is quiet and I don't know why. He's not like these elephants eating their hay. They're busily crunching and munching away. His appetite's big. There's no doubt that it's true. But, if you were his size, then you'd eat a lot, too. An elephant's trunk is all right, I suppose. But, I wouldn't want something that long for a nose. Yet, an elephant uses his long trunk with ease to pick up his food without bending his knees. Each leg is as thick as the trunk of a tree. I guess that's the way that his legs have to be. Each ear is so large that it looks like a sail. And that's not a rope swinging there. That's his tail. An elephant's walk is an interesting sight. He sways to the left, then he sways to the right. The sound that he makes is unusual, too. He trumpets like this. Can you? Well, we've all seen the elephant moving around, seen him eating his hay, heard him making his sound, watched him using his trunk as most elephants will. But the lion is quiet and silent and still. Not at all like this animal, this kangaroo. He's getting his exercise. Soon he'll be through. And see, now he's resting. But not far away are two kangaroos who are busy at play. These kangaroos seem to think boxing is fun, but I don't think I'd like to box either one. You've probably noticed the legs that they've got. The front legs are small ones. The rear legs are not. Those hind legs are big ones. They're very strong. A kangaroo uses them hopping along. There that one goes hopping, but here comes another. Say, this kangaroo is a kangaroo mother. And tucked in her pouch is her baby. You see? That's a very safe place for her baby to be. And so you can see that not one kangaroo is quiet or resting today in the zoo. And here the giraffes are all busy as well. What this one is doing is easy to tell. He's chewing the food that will help him to grow. When he swallows, the food has a long way to go. Yes, his neck is quite long and his legs are long, too. Giraffes are the tallest of all at the zoo. They walk in a dignified manner, I'd say. And with just a few steps, they can go a long way. The giraffes are all busy. Let's see if that's true of the other wild animals here at the zoo. Just look at the bears. No, the bears are not still. They're playfully wrestling as bears often will. They squeeze and they nip and they push and they tug. I don't think I'd like one to give me a hug. Big and ferocious, like most bears I have seen. Just listen. You see what I mean? Their teeth are quite sharp and their claws are sharp, too. I think that for bears, [music] that's important. Don't you? Are the polar bears busy? Why, yes. So they are. Like most of the animals we've seen so far. Now watch how he waddles from this side to that. I think I'd fall over if I walked like that. When a bear walks, he uses all four of his legs. But he just uses two when he sits up and begs. Let's leave the bears now as they wrestle and box. And visit the home of the sly little fox. He's pacing the floor in his usual way. He's not lying down like the lion today. He looks like a dog, though a small dog, it's true. And his neighbor, the wolf, is quite like a dog, too. But the wolf is much fiercer than dogs are, I'll bet. I don't think I'd care to have him for a pet. Oh, there are more animals here at the zoo. All busily doing the things that they do. A wildcat is showing an unpleasant mood. A raccoon who is hungry is washing his food. Some seals are now barking. I don't know why. A young deer is running because she is shy. A porcupine shakes all his quills with delight. While a zebra with stripes is enjoying the sight. A beaver is thinking of building a dam. Now, say. Are you thinking the same thing I am? With all of this bustle and all of this play, then why is the lion so quiet today? But look. Is he moving and starting to rise? Do you see a twinkle appear in his eyes? Why, yes. I believe he's going to roar. That's the roar that I mentioned before. But why is he suddenly acting this way? Why isn't he still being quiet today? Perhaps you can guess. But you don't have to try. Before there was nobody watching. That's why. But now someone's watching, a girl and some boys. The lion is doing what each one enjoys. He's roaring and growling and showing his claws, and pacing and prowling and stalking because there are children here watching enjoying the sight of the king of the animals showing his might. How wild and ferocious and handsome he looks, like lions they've read of in animal books. How happy they are to have such a fine view of the lion who lives in this marvelous zoo. >> [music]