Cangio




Statues of Viet Cong Soldier re-enacting a scene from the Vietnam War in Cangio. 

 


Crocodile at Cangio



An uncaged monkey hanging out on a tree at Cangio.

An uncaged monkey peering into the caged monkeys.

Monkeys fighting over the rice grain feed.

Monkeys scattered along the entrance way at Cangio.

I dont know how I feel about Cangio.  Its part Vietnam War memorial and part wildlife zoo.  When you arrive, you are greeted by a crew of open monkeys scattered along the pathway.  As you make your way, they give you the up and down, scanning for any kind of treats you may have on you.  I am told by the zookeeper they are pretty aggressive and are known to steal food from patrons.  You can purchase bananas to feed them, but they are not responsible for whatever happens in the midst of the exchange.  My aunt and her friends who took me here, have claimed to have many personal belongings stolen from these monkeys, from hats to even eyewear.  My aunt who was wearing her only pair of spectacles was extra worrisome of this experience.  They find the monkeys to be quiet obnoxious and untrustworthy.  I however, found the scene to be quite sad just like any other zoo I have visited.  This one had a mixture between "free" animals and caged animals and we are assuming that the caged ones are the ones that have misbehaved.  I am by no means a wild animal expert, but these monkeys seemed a bit starved and I only saw them eating rice grains which they fought over with much aggression.  They kept their distance from you if you didn't have any food on you, and didnt have the least bit of curiousity about you, if anything many seemed more disinterested in you if you werent of any use.  There were a few that displayed some bewilderment, perhaps they are less jaded.  They are very much like us.  Take away the fancy clothes and our "jobs" and we all share the same basic tendency, whether it be good or bad.  I guess its not too crazy of a juxtaposition between a war memorial and a zoo, both to some degree display our basic human nature.