What super power do you wish you had and why?
If I had a super power, I would want it to be the ability to shape shift into any animal. A pretty obvious choice since I’m a zookeeper, huh?
I probably wouldn’t go the full superhero route with my powers. Wouldn’t give myself a name or make myself known. Being able to shape shift into animals would simply be a useful everyday ability–no doubt about it. You could fly to work as a peregrine falcon, fastest bird in the world. Turn into a western lowland gorilla to get a jar of jam open. Climb to new heights as a black capped mangabey or reach the top shelf as a giraffe.
The best part about it would be the perspective. Every creature great and small has a different perspective on this planet we need to take great care of. Animals in the tropics don’t know what its like in the desert. Many in the deep sea will never see land and those that explore a forest canopy will never delve into the ocean. A tiny mouse views its surroundings much differently than a large elephant.
Imagine what it would be like to be a small rodent scurrying through grass. Trees are mountains. Leaves are cups that hold the rain. A trickling creek is a mighty river and a lake could be the ocean. One could even soar to new heights as an eagle. Ride the wind above the storms, watch the lightning from below and the tops of the clouds glisten on like heaven itself. Or, maybe go smaller? Be a little songbird: a tufted titmouse or blue-gray gnatcatcher. Feel what it’s like to flutter through the trees, bringing song to usually oblivious humans below.
I could choose to be a bat. See what it’s like to move by sound rather than sight. Or delve into the ocean and experience the eight limbs of an octopus or how to to dance like a dolphin. Turn into a shark and feel the drive of the hunt or how to breathe under water.
I think what I would try first is the great speed of a cheetah. To go from 0mph to 60mph in 3 seconds. Every body part engaged. Every stride met with power that sends you flying in between steps.
If I could have any superpower, it would be the ability to shapeshift into any animal. I would seek to view every perspective and gain a greater understanding of the animals we share this world with.
nikki diekemper 