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If We Could Talk With the Animals. . . Life At The Popcorn Park Zoo "Good morning, ladies! How are my girls?" From the sound of his voice, you would think that John Bergmann, Director of the Popcorn Park Zoo, was talking to his daughters. Close, but no cigar. John is talking to "the cats" (or, as the rest of us see them, the bobcats, tigers, and lionesses) as he goes through his daily morning routine of letting them outdoors. His amazing ability to pet their heads as they purr, stuns anyone who happens to catch a glimpse. John Bergmann, who was at the zoo when they took in their very first animal in 1977, is just one part of the amazing operation known as the Popcorn Park Zoo, located in Forked River, NJ. The Popcorn Park Zoo is unlike any other zoo. Each animal has its own story and history (which is labeled in front of their surroundings for all visitors to read). The animals were abused, mistreated, sick or simply too old to continue their duties when they first arrived from drug dealers, carnivals, and magic acts--their previous homes.

A good cause For example, there was Lacey the lion, who would have been put to sleep if he had not been rescued from his magician owner. He could no longer control Lacey when he got to be too rough. Sheena, also a lion, along with Cindy Lou, the bobcat, were kept as pets, but their owners were unprepared to care for them. Then there's Granny and Grandpa, the old, blind ponies, Tarbaby, a goat that was found on the top of an apartment building, covered in tar at a very young age, and many, many other animals. What other zoo has a landscaped pet cemetery, a garden where dogs from the adjoining animal shelter can be walked, or geese that greet you as you drive into the entrance? The zoo is set on seven acres of scenic ground, land truly put to a good cause. The zoo is a miracle to the animals, their last resort. Most of the animals would have continued to receive abuse or, more likely, have been put to sleep. The zoo is their happy ending. The Popcorn Park Zoo teaches all of us that if we simply set aside a small part of ourselves, be it money, time, or heart, a lot can happen. Lives can be saved if we think of someone or something other than ourselves. We tend to treat people the same as we do animals: the older they get, the less we assume they can do. This obviously is not this zoo's philosophy. Contentment has replaced fear in the animals' eyes. They know that mealtime will come, that attention is guaranteed, and that they are in a truly caring environment. Contributions and entrance fees support the animals, so the Popcorn Park Zoo depends on visitors to keep it running. It receives no tax support or financial assistance from the government. Employees work nonstop all day to make sure that the animals get the best care and attention possible. If you like wildlife, one way to help the animals is though sponsorship. For a small fee, a picture and letter of the animal's status will be mailed out to you. If a sponsor chooses a dog or cat, the sponsor can walk with the animal when he or she visits the zoo. (Sorry, you can't take the lions for a walk!) Besides the reward of knowing you've helped a deserving animal, the sponsor also receives a free membership to the zoo. For more information about the Popcorn Park Zoo or sponsoring an animal, call 1-609-693-1900. Or you may write to the zoo at: The Popcorn Park Zoo, Humane Way, P.O. Box 43, Forked River, NJ, 08731-0043. Remember, we're all part of the circle of life. by Mara Shorr Mara Shorr, age 15, is a 10th grader at Souderton Area High School. For the past two years, she has worked as an assistant to her mother, a professional photgrapher, who photographs animals at the zoo for the National Humane Society calender.