Noah's Ark: Wouldn't it Stink? (Lighthearted)

[zlyssa2]

NOTE: This thread is not for a discussion of whether Noah's ark literally existed or did not. Also, I'm rather new to these forums, so if this is the wrong spot for this thread, feel free to move it, mods .

___________________

Most Christians were taught the story of Noah's Ark as a child. Many were fascinated by it, but few bothered to think about the logistical details.

As an adult who now works at a zoo (in large part as a cage cleaner) in pursuit of my zoology degree, I have a WHOLE new perspective on the story. Most pet owners have some experience with the...more unpleasant parts of caring for animals. I knew zoo work would be dirty work, but this didn't deter me from going in and getting my hands dirty.

What I wasn't prepared for, at least not at first, was that cat and dog waste was NOTHING compared to some of these animals. Some examples? The smell of fresh tiger feces, up close, is just astounding. I have a strong stomach, and it can literally make me feel sick at times. Male foxes, especially during mating season, have musky, territory-marking urine that doesn't wash out of anything with a choking stench that could gag a maggot. My love for animals has not vanished, but I didn't know they could be -that- smelly until I started working at a zoo!

So think about the situation on the ark! I can barely stand the smell from some of the big cat enclosures - and again, I have a strong stomach and they are cleaned fairly regularly. Can you imagine being on a boat with over 50 big cats (there are at least 25 species of them, 2 for each gender), and hundreds of other animals? I'm really not sure how anyone could handle the smell. It wouldn't matter how diligently you cleaned up after them or how you managed the waste. The ark would have absolutely reeked. And I'm not talking about something that "smells like dog poop" here. I'm talking about a smell that would instantly induce nausea in almost everyone on that boat.

So...what do you think? Whether the story is true or not, I thought this was an interesting side to consider. Do you think God blocked Noah's nose up to protect him? Was the smell all part of His divine plan?

Thanks for reading!

 

[Soul2Soul]

Who nose (knows) how God dealt with this issue?

 

[djlester]

Well there was plenty of water around to get a good deal scrub on the go

 

[zlyssa2]

Well there was plenty of water around to get a good deal scrub on the go

I doubt it would be enough. We scrub the enclosures often at the zoo, too, but they still can reek!

 

[djlester]

Hmmm guessing it was too early to grab some fabreeze

 

[zlyssa2]

^ Most likely!

 

[Sarah Sarah]

"And just prior to boarding the ark God told Noah, Noah go forth and bring cases of Febreze two by two..."

NOTE: This thread is not for a discussion of whether Noah's ark literally existed or did not. Also, I'm rather new to these forums, so if this is the wrong spot for this thread, feel free to move it, mods .

___________________

Most Christians were taught the story of Noah's Ark as a child. Many were fascinated by it, but few bothered to think about the logistical details.

As an adult who now works at a zoo (in large part as a cage cleaner) in pursuit of my zoology degree, I have a WHOLE new perspective on the story. Most pet owners have some experience with the...more unpleasant parts of caring for animals. I knew zoo work would be dirty work, but this didn't deter me from going in and getting my hands dirty.

What I wasn't prepared for, at least not at first, was that cat and dog waste was NOTHING compared to some of these animals. Some examples? The smell of fresh tiger feces, up close, is just astounding. I have a strong stomach, and it can literally make me feel sick at times. Male foxes, especially during mating season, have musky, territory-marking urine that doesn't wash out of anything with a choking stench that could gag a maggot. My love for animals has not vanished, but I didn't know they could be -that- smelly until I started working at a zoo!

So think about the situation on the ark! I can barely stand the smell from some of the big cat enclosures - and again, I have a strong stomach and they are cleaned fairly regularly. Can you imagine being on a boat with over 50 big cats (there are at least 25 species of them, 2 for each gender), and hundreds of other animals? I'm really not sure how anyone could handle the smell. It wouldn't matter how diligently you cleaned up after them or how you managed the waste. The ark would have absolutely reeked. And I'm not talking about something that "smells like dog poop" here. I'm talking about a smell that would instantly induce nausea in almost everyone on that boat.

So...what do you think? Whether the story is true or not, I thought this was an interesting side to consider. Do you think God blocked Noah's nose up to protect him? Was the smell all part of His divine plan?

Thanks for reading!

 

[zlyssa2]

"And just prior to boarding the ark God told Noah, Noah go forth and bring cases of Febreze two by two..."

I'm not sure if that much Febreze would even be enough! Haha

 

[StormHawk]

... Do you think God blocked Noah's nose up to protect him? Was the smell all part of His divine plan?

Many animals hibernate when it gets cold, as it would have done with all those clouds about.
Also they eat less if they are being sedantry, also modern zoo food probably has more chemicals & preservatives.

I believe "the world" that then was was not what we would call "the World" today.

 

[zlyssa2]

Many animals hibernate when it gets cold, as it would have done with all those clouds about.
Also they eat less if they are being sedantry, also modern zoo food probably has more chemicals & preservatives.

I believe "the world" that then was was not what we would call "the World" today.

That may be. But trust me - given my experience at the zoo, even a 90% reduction in animal waste would not bring the smell even close to bearable levels.

 

[Laceylady]

is that when God invented nose plugs?

 

[zlyssa2]

is that when God invented nose plugs?

Likely not. .

 

[zlyssa2]

It might have been close to bearable with only smallest animals, but think about all the big cats, elephants, zebras, hippos, etc. Ughh.

 

[Archie the Preacher]

Zlyssa, you have a very valid point here. Not to mention humorous in a somewhat basic sense.

I've had dogs and cats. Having served in the Armed Forces, I am familiar with 'non chemical' outhouses and privies. Human waste is - uh - 'breath taking' (not in a good way). (Note: Carnivorous critters tend to smell worse than herbivorous critters. But it's all reasonably malodorous.)

Does anyone else remember the Bill Cosby routine about Noah? One line runs, "...and look at the bottom of the boat! Who's gonna clean that up?" A very valid point.

One could point out this was a 'primitive' culture in many ways, so perhaps the odor of processed foods and livestock was more familiar and therefore less objectionable? And perhaps, part of the miracle of the Ark was Noah didn't just deep six some of the more objectionable critters. Or jump off himself.

Obviously, the whole process worked. But with limited data available, we may never determine all the details. So I suppose one will simply have to wait and ask Noah in future time.

 

[appleofhiseye]

Well I think noah and fam. probably didn't smell much better, After a while one get used to the smell.(like some unwashed people don't notice their own BO)

 

[zlyssa2]

Well I think noah and fam. probably didn't smell much better, After a while one get used to the smell.(like some unwashed people don't notice their own BO)

I don't think the smell of unwashed people can compare to the smell of certain animals' waste .

 

[zlyssa2]

Zlyssa, you have a very valid point here. Not to mention humorous in a somewhat basic sense.

I've had dogs and cats. Having served in the Armed Forces, I am familiar with 'non chemical' outhouses and privies. Human waste is - uh - 'breath taking' (not in a good way). (Note: Carnivorous critters tend to smell worse than herbivorous critters. But it's all reasonably malodorous.)

Does anyone else remember the Bill Cosby routine about Noah? One line runs, "...and look at the bottom of the boat! Who's gonna clean that up?" A very valid point.

One could point out this was a 'primitive' culture in many ways, so perhaps the odor of processed foods and livestock was more familiar and therefore less objectionable? And perhaps, part of the miracle of the Ark was Noah didn't just deep six some of the more objectionable critters. Or jump off himself.

Obviously, the whole process worked. But with limited data available, we may never determine all the details. So I suppose one will simply have to wait and ask Noah in future time.

Indeed .

 

[Armistead14]

Regardless if the story is true or not, they probably used all the poo to fuel the steam engine on it..

 

[Christian Soldier 777]

I believe it happened, after all the Bible is the "Word of God". They also were not use to the fragrances that we are, like shampoo, soap, deodorant, cologne, etc... So smells that bother us would not necessarily bother the people of Noah's time. They can clean the ark, just like they clean zoos and no where does it say that they were adult animals. Most people think Noah was required to take a male and female animals from each species and this is not true. They could have all been baby animals. The only requirement from God is found in Genesis 7:2,"Take with you seven pairs of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate, and one pair of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate. Hope this helped you believe.

 

[zlyssa2]

I believe it happened, after all the Bible is the "Word of God". They also were not use to the fragrances that we are, like shampoo, soap, deodorant, cologne, etc... So smells that bother us would not necessarily bother the people of Noah's time. They can clean the ark, just like they clean zoos and no where does it say that they were adult animals. Most people think Noah was required to take a male and female animals from each species and this is not true. They could have all been baby animals. The only requirement from God is found in Genesis 7:2,"Take with you seven pairs of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate, and one pair of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate. Hope this helped you believe.

Well, there still is no evidence that the flood actually existed, and the fact that the Bible says so isn't really evidence. We understand science a lot better now than when these books were written. That's beside the point, though - I suppose the chance that it happened is greater than 0%!

I don't think it would be anywhere near as easy to clean the ark as it would be to clean zoos, though. The lack of ventilation combined with the smells of some of those animals, I would think, would make people vomit, regardless of if they were used to harsher odors back then.