goodby, vilas

the female lion at madison's vilas zoo recently died. her partner henry and their one year old male offspring named leopold remain at the lion enclosure. we went to the zoo last week for the first time since her death, and seeing henry and leopold without vilas was a little sad for me. sadder still was when ramona asked "where is the mommy lion?". but saddest were the sweet and heartfelt notes from local children and other zoo visitors, taped to this window at the lion enclosure. i got a little teary at the zoo last week, and i'm sure i'm not alone on that count.