Personality Insights: What Does YOUR Favorite ZOO ANIMAL Reveal About You?

When you visit the zoo, are you drawn to the roaring intensity of the lions and tigers or do you prefer the quiet majesty of the elephants and giraffes?  Whichever you prefer, one thing is sure:  Your choice reveals a lot about your most human qualities.  "We all feel a connection to certain wild animals - it's a primal attraction that speaks to our core characteristics," says psychologist Donna LaMar, Ph.D., who specializes in animal-assisted therapy at The Farm in Fremont, Michigan (livingfarm.org).  Read on to discover the personality traits reflected in your favorite zoo animal!

IF YOU PREFER...

Elephants and Giraffes
YOU'RE AN ADVENTUROUS LEADER!

Far from the big-game hunters on safari, you're an adventurer of a different stripe, looking for experiences instead of prey.  "The sheer size of elephants and giraffes is daunting to most people - but to you, it represents your wildly varied interests," explains LaMar.  bold and strong-willed, you're also a great leader who's always up for a challenge!

Bears and Polar Bears
YOU'RE A MYSTERIOUS NURTURER!

Like a mama bear, you're a fierce protector of loved ones - but just as approachable as a stuffed teddy!  Maybe that's why you relate to children as well as your peers.  Generous as you are, you also need time to yourself - much like hibernating bears.  And while your kind heart may be plain as day, you still keep a mystique swirling about you!



Seals or Walruses
YOU'RE A PLAYFUL CHARMER!

Adorable, with a penchant for tricks, these seagoing charmers mirror your own easygoing spirit.  "You love sports just as much as high-brow cultural events - because both arenas capture emotion and encapsulate life," says LaMar.  In other words, you not only fit in everywhere, but you're also the life of every party!


Crocodiles or reptiles
YOU'RE A FREE-SPIRITED ARTIST!

Physically, they're the least like us, so a love of reptiles means you're someone who looks for appeal that's more than "scale-deep."  It's no wonder you tend to be a highly creative, out-of-the-box thinker.

Apes and monkeys
YOU'RE A SUPER-SMARTY!

Like our ultra-clever and always sociable primate cousins, you're as introspective as you are outgoing.  It's a duality that shows how complex and confident you really are. 

Lions and tigers
YOU'RE A SENSITIVE INTROVERT!

It's not the outgoing folks who are attracted to look-at-me lions and tigers - it's more often the most soft-spoken.  "You're drawn to the big cats because they represent the wilder part of yourself," reveals LaMar.  Just like the queens of the animal kingdom, you exude a regal, sophisticated persona.  Quiet, but sure of your own voice, you're as captivating as the most majestic of cats. 

Resource:  - Kristina Mastrocola- Woman's World Magazine, Vol.XX, No.10, March 09, 2009 Issue, P. 44