the turtle growls

The turtle growls. We're not sure where he learned it. We were at the Central Park Zoo with our Birth Class Buddies last week and we spent a considerable amount of time watching a playful, but very quiet, polar bear. We also witnessed  a pack (are they a pack?) of lemurs stand on their haunches and cry out in defense. It was a terrifying sound, but more of a hiss than a growl (photo of angry lemur above). Besides, the turtle's growl is not an expression of anger or frustration; maybe one of excitement. He growls when he sees something for the first time, when he's playing, or anticipating food. And the growl is just one of a full repertoire of sounds. He also gurgles. He whimpers. He smacks his lips. He shrieks and blows raspberries in the air. He has a whimper that will break your heart and a laugh that could make an ornery man smile.