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Happiness Abounds At The San Diego Zoo In Southern California

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Happy And Hungry Giant Panda

 

San Diego Zoo

At the San Diego Zoo, it is a beautiful day in Southern California with blue skies and pleasant temperatures. Ten in the morning is the perfect time for arriving at the Panda Habitat. As you arrive, you quickly notice how content and happy the Pandas are. The second thing you quickly observe is that they eat a lot! This is feeding time and this contented fellow is enjoying his almost unlimited bamboo treats.

Who can resist loving anything this cute, with the face of an angel and the grace of a lumberjack? The San Diego Zoo can not help loving these not so gentle giants. It all started in 1987 when two pandas came for a visit for 100 days from China. Later, in 1996, China agreed to allow the zoo to house two of their pandas. These first two residents, Bai Yun and Gao Gao gave birth to Xiao Liwu in 2012. Bai Yun and Xiao Liwu can be visited in their home habitat in the Panda Trek area. Panda Trek is close to the Giant Panda Research Station. The zookeepers and the researchers are trying to learn all they can about these wonderful, but endangered, residents of the San Diego Zoo. As for Gao Gao, due to his age and failing health, he lives a quiet life at the Panda Habitat.

An adult Giant Panda is only about 2-3 feet tall, but they are definitely members of the bear family.  They walk like a bear, climb like a bear, and play like a bear. They are omnivores, as they love to eat bamboo, many other plants, and a meal of good meat is never passed up. They are, without a doubt, the cutest bears in town. They have an extremely thick body and their bones are thick for the size of the bear. But keep tuned for playtime, as you will be astonished at how agile and flexible they really are. Have you ever watched a panda do somersaults? They are cute, agile, and more than ready for the Olympics.

Giant Pandas Are Big On Bamboo

Probably one of the most amazing things about these Giant Pandas is how small they are at birth. They are a little more than 3 ounces when born, are totally dependent on their mother, and are complete without hair. They are so helpless that the mother does not leave the baby alone in the den, even to find food or drink for several days.  When a baby cub nears 2 months of age, they usually begin opening their eyes, and soon after they will begin to crawl. In the fifth month, they are usually walking well and this little rolly poly cub is ready to explore the great outdoors with his mother. From this time on they begin to grow fast, as they eat a lot of bamboo and other plants. They spend over 12 hours a day eating. Now that is a healthy appetite!

The Adorable Meerkat

Welcome to the happy and crazy habitat of the Meerkats at the San Diego Zoo. These little fellows are cute,  spontaneous, clever beyond belief and a bundle of fun. This spectacular member of the mongoose family is similar to a weasel in many ways. If you have never watched them run and play, you do not know what you are missing.

In their natural habitat, and here at the San Diego Zoo, they like to make large burrows for the whole mob of around 40 members. Sometimes the mob can also be called a gang. They greatly love the companionship of other meerkats and of course, there is safety in larger numbers.  They often groom each other and spend much of the day in group play.

A mob of meerkats is a gang of several family units, though there is always one pair that is dominant. This structure keeps them together as a community while answering their individual needs to be groomed and played with. It is their love of community that keeps them strong, even in the face of danger.

This amazing meerkat lives about eight years in the wild and can live as long as 13 in a good zoo. When they are first born, they usually weigh less than a pound, but when full-grown they would have doubled that. Even a large meerkat is not much over two pounds. They may not weigh much, but they can be nine to thirteen inches long. Unlike most animals, it is the female that will outweigh the male.

By far, the most amazing thing about them is their dare devil way of getting their food. These tiny hunters can kill poisonous snakes so fast that the snake doesn’t know what happened. They also like to eat the desert scorpions, though, like the snake, their venom doesn’t seem to bother them. They have some type of immunity to the venom, as it does not seem to affect them in any way. They also love eating roots and tubers they find in the ground, and a favorite are the tsama melons. The moisture naturally found in the tubers and roots supply them with all the water they need.

These little creatures can keep you laughing as they run, climb, and play. If you are feeling down, just head to the Meerkat Habitat, and they will give your mood a big boost. It is hours of fun and games, in the life of the Meerkat. If you need an injection of laughter, then you have come to the right place.

The Unique Kentia Palm Seeds Of Southern California

As you wander through the grounds, be sure to take in all the unique palms and flowers that grow in Southern California. The San Diego Zoo Grounds has many different palms, each with its own uniqueness. This one is known for its patterned bark and its strange-looking seeds that grow on the outside of the tree.

This is a slow-growing tropical palm that can make a wonderful house plant. It will quickly become a conversation piece. In the San Diego area, it is an outdoor treat for curious eyes, and inquiring minds.

The Skeleton Of A Python Is All Backbone

This is a giant Python! It is not a venomous snake or even an evil one, as we generally assume. If you look closely at the skeleton above you can see where he has had several broken ribs that healed. Pythons live in Africa, Asia, and Australia. They love the native savannas and rain forests of these areas. Pythons move while in a straight line, making their ribs very strong and stiff. Adult Pythons make a good meal for the larger Birds of Prey. Even leopards and sometimes lions get in on the action.

They hatch their eggs when it is time to reproduce. During the incubation period, the Python keeps her eggs warm by coiling her body around her eggs. If she sees they are too cold, she does a shivering motion with her body to warm up the eggs. This is a lot of exertion, and afterward she will not lay eggs again for three or four years. Once the eggs hatch, the babies are on their own. Then the life cycle begins all over again, with the babies trying to outsmart their predators.

The Long Snouted Indian Gharial

This Long Snouted Indian Gharial has gone Jurassic at the San Diego Zoo in Southern California. This Gharial, with his 110 very sharp teeth and very long snout, is amazing at catching fish, thus he is often called the fish-eating crocodile. Fish is his main source of food. This member of the crocodile family spends most of his time in the water, though when cold, he pulls himself onto the bank and spends a few hours in the sun. He is one of the three different crocodiles that are native to India, Pakistan, and Nepal. The male Gharial has like a round knob or growth on the end of his slender snout. The Gharial having lived on earth for an estimated 65 million years, is now a critically endangered species.

Flamboyant Flamingo At The Flamingo Lagoon

Flamingos are most at home in salty or caustic lagoons or very shallow lakes. These lakes are poisonous to most other animals, so they have little competition for the algae, diatoms, and those small crustaceans. This is perfect, as these tiny creatures are what they prefer to dine on. If ever there was a win-win situation, this is it!

The San Diego Zoo has one of these caustic lagoons, and it is the perfect environment for these beautiful giant birds. Like other Lagoons elsewhere, it is too salty and caustic for other birds or fish that might give competition for their favorite food supply. With that in mind, the Flamingos at the San Diego Zoo flourish in the Southern California Sun.

Their extremely long legs also allow the Flamingos to wade farther out into the water than other animals, and thus their selection of food is even greater. If you have ever watched a Flamingo fish for his food, you can not help but enjoy this unique and different concept in fishing. While holding their beak upside down, they begin taking in water. They take in water, animals, and all, and then filter out the water with their built-in water filter. All that remains are these tiny creatures and dinner is served.

These beautiful birds put on quite an airshow when they travel in formarion. Just imagine their long beautiful necks sticking straight out ahead, and their legs straight out behind. When they wave their wings, as they often do, the colors are spectacular.

Tasmanian Devil At The San Diego Zoo

The Tasmanian Devil is a strange-looking marsupial that lives in the grasslands and forests of Tasmania Island, Australia. Such a little fellow, but he has earned his name. He is similar in many ways to the rat in features, but watch out for his temper. He has sharp teeth and when he is mad he is vicious. He is known to have one of the sharpest bites in the animal kingdom.

Even though the majority of Tasmanian Devils prefer the grasslands and forests, you will find them throughout the island. Watch your step, as they like to sleep in empty caves, burrows that they run across, and under rocks or logs. The better they can hide, the happier they are. Such a combination of happy and snarly! They are nocturnal and so sleep all day and often go on long journeys at night. It is not unusual for them to travel up to 10 miles in a single night.

The Tasmanian Devil is highly endangered and is in grave danger of dying off due to very deadly and transmissible cancer. Great care is being taken in the safekeeping, protection, and study of this little devilish critter with the terrible temper at the San Diego Zoo. Be sure to check out this little fellow next time you are at the zoo.

The South American Guanaco At The San Diego Zoo

Welcome to the home of the Guanacos, a close relative to the camel. Whereas camels are the workhorses of the desert with coarse coats, the Guanaco is so very soft, has no humps, is smaller, and extremely graceful. They are beautiful with their light brown coats with white underbellies. Their tails are quite short, they have really long necks, and big ears that point straight up. Unlike camels that come from Africa and Asia, Guanacos come from South America. A Guanaco is much smaller than a camel and larger than other camelids, such as alpacas, vicunas, or llamas.

Guanacos live in groups with one dominant adult male, up to about 10 females, and all their young chulengos. Unattached bachelors form their own groups which maybe 50 or more adult males. When a female Guanaco gives birth, her Chulengs are quite able to stand and walk. They have no issue with keeping up with the rest of the group shortly after birth.

If they were put on display at a beauty contest, they would surely come in the first place. You haven’t seen beauty until you check out the Guanacos that live at the San Diego Zoo.

Elephant Odyssey Showcases The Pleistocene Era Tar Pit 

Showcasing California’s spectacular history during what is known as the Pleistocene Era, Elephant Odyssey tells the story of who these magnificent animals were that roamed Southern California. You will be able to discover the 40 species that went extinct during this time. This amazing exhibit was done together with The La Brea Tar Pits, The Western Center for Archaeology & Paleontology, and The San Diego Natural History Museum. Here you will learn the significance of the extinctions on today’s animal kingdom. When you see the most famous of the exhibits, the elephant, you will watch them in all their grandeur, as they mate, raise families, and play together. What an enlightening experience this will be for those who care about the animals of today. As we learn from the past, we will be better able to meet the challenges of today’s animal kingdom.

The Playful World Of The Schmidt’s Red-tailed Monkey 

The Schmidt’s Red-tailed Monkey goes by several names, but the best description for this cute little fellow is this one. He has a beautiful red tail from which he gets his name. Other noticeable characteristics of this cute primate are his white nose and checks surrounded by a body of gorgeous black or dark grey fur. Like many other animals, he has what seems to be expanding checks so that he can both gather and store food. Sometimes he will need to store his food for months.

These cute little primates are indeed quite small. They usually have bodies that are only about one to two feet long, though his tale can be as long as 35 inches. Males are usually on the top of the scale, with females being very small indeed. The males can weigh from seven to ten pounds, where a female is only in the six to eight-pound range. Their long red tales are not only beautiful but they are used for balance when needed.

The Majestic Great Blue Heron   

This majestic Heron actually calls the wetlands that are so common in North America and also Central America home. This graceful heron is the largest bird in North America and certainly the most spectacular.  The Great Blue Heron stands tall at 36-54 inches and when they open those magnificent wings, they span from 66-70 inches. Can you imagine the skies of San Diego when they all decide to fly? The skies are filled with large dusty blue herons. What a spectacular sight!

The San Diego Zoo is one of the largest zoos in our country and certainly one of the cleanest and caring. Many endangered species call this huge zoo home, along with the researchers that are working day and night to prevent their names from being added to those that are extinct. While we have given you 12 reasons to enjoy this spectacular zoo, the list of animals almost seems endless. These 12 are only some of our favorites. So next time you are in Southern California, be sure to join us for a relaxing visit to the residents of the San Diego Zoo.

Exciting World Of The San Diego Zoo

 

 

Reaching High At Safari Park

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High Expectations At The San Diego Zoo

The San Diego Zoo and Safari Park is a world leader in conservation and assistance to animals, reptiles, and birds who find themselves on the endangered species list. Like this giraffe, their standards and expectations are high.  With high confidence, their success rate with the endangered species of the world has been phenomenal. Join us as we take a peak into the world of the giraffe, another one of the amazing animals at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

The giraffe is an amazing creature with legs that are around six feet long and an enormous neck that is also around six feet. Not only do they have very long necks, but their necks weigh around 600 pounds. Can you imagine carrying that around all day? The giraffe carries that and a whole lot more day after day. It can be said that they have a very large heart, as their heart weighs almost 25 pounds. Now that is a very big heart!

The San Diego Zoo currently has a nice size heard of Masai Giraffes that share the Urban Jungle Exhibit with a heard of Nubian Soemmering’s gazelles. This brings a lot of excitement to the area. The Masai Giraffe is not on the endangered species list, but their numbers in Africa are dwindaling. The Masai Giraffe can be identified by it’s large liver colored spots outlined with wide white lines. This is the giraffe that is seen in most zoos world wide and is the most common.

The Safari Park Exhibit has two herds of giraffes  the Uganda Giraffes with their large, brown blobs of color separated by beige lines that are a little thicker than other species. The other herd is the Reticulated Giraffe. While the Reticulated Giraffe is native to Somalia, it is now found only in northern Kenya. It has a beautiful dark coat with narrow white lines, that almost look like a spider web.

At the San Diego Safari Park, as well as the zoo, giraffes are fed in very high food trees. This prevents others from coming along and eating all their food. The giraffe is a very slow eater and it takes all day for them to fill their stomach. A healthy giraffe in the wild eats about 75 pounds of Acacia leaves and other things that may be around. At the Wildlife Park, they eat a variety of things including Acacia leaves, hay, carrots, and some special biscuits made just for them. These biscuits are very low in starch and high in fiber. If you are there at feeding time, you can buy biscuits to feed to individual giraffes. Can you imagine getting close enough to a giraffe to feed him or her? Life is an adventure at the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park.

So what are you waiting for? Isn’t it time you took a look around your own back yard? While it is quite an adventure to travel to other lands, America has some outstanding places to see and things to do. Why not make your next family adventure an America exploration?  Check out the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park. Spend a few days and explore all the many San Diego places of interest. San Diego has lots to see and do. Why not pack your bag and head on out to the zoo. The animals are waiting.

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Published on steemit.com@exploretraveler Feb. 14, 2017 at:

https://steemit.com/travel/@exploretraveler/reaching-high-at-safari-park

 

The Exciting World Of The San Diego Zoo

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It’s A Playful World At The Zoo

A day at the San Diego Zoo is always fun and what better place to begin your San Diego adventure. The perfect starting place is at the monkey enclosure. These pesky and playful monkeys are always fun and entertaining to watch. You never know what to expect!

The playful world of Schmidt’s Red-tailed Monkey is an experience to behold. These playful monkeys are between 12 and 24 inches long, but their tails with a touch of red can be 35 inches easy. Did you notice the large cheek pouches? Schmidt’s red-tailed monkeys have cheeks that can almost hold as much food as their stomachs. They can eat and pack the food in the cheeks and then find a quiet location where no one will bother them to eat. They can then safely and slowly consume their treasure. It is a built-in safety net to keep others from stealing from them. Now, how awesome is that?

The Schmidt’s red-tailed monkey has many different names. They are also known as the black-cheeked white-nosed monkey, the spot-nosed monkey, and the red=tailed Guenon.  These special monkeys have brown, black, and grey fur. The underside of their tail is red. This is how they get their name. Now that is one sporty little monkey!

These amazing monkeys live in tropical swamps, tropical mountains, and tropical lowland forests.  They thrive at the San Diego Zoo in Southern California. San Diego’s climate is just perfect for these little monkeys from the Congo. They also call Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda home. They are really quite adaptive. Here they have an enormous area to play and roam.

These colorful primates are primarily fruit eaters. In seasons when the fruit is not available, they will also eat leaves, tropical flowers, and gum from tropical trees.  At the zoo, they are given plenty of fruit and leaves. This makes for happy monkeys at the San Diego Zoo.

Happy Panda Having Breakfast

Next on the morning agenda is the Giant Pandas. This is always a favorite place to spend some time. Around 10 am is a favorite time to visit. This is the feeding time for these giant teddy bears.

This Giant Panda complete with a tuxedo is relishing his breakfast of bamboo. He seems to be showing off for the camera, as he almost has a smile on his face. Who can resist loving this endearing panda with such a sweet face? When he is done with breakfast he will ample off and roam the forest that is his home at The San Diego Zoo. This lovable Panda is a National Treasure in China. He is protected by law in his native bamboo forests of China.

The three Giant Pandas at the San Diego Zoo live a life of luxury. The enormous enclosure has many trees, a wide variety of climbing structures, and air-conditioned bedrooms. All these treasures that they value, plus all the bamboo they can eat.

When  Bai Yun and Shi Shi arrived from China they were the first pair of Pandas to come to the United States. They were part of a landmark panda-loan agreement with China. In just three years the unthinkable happened, Bai Yun gave birth to Hua Mei. Hua Mei is the first surviving panda born in the United States.  Bai Yun has given birth to 6 living pandas in her lifetime. She is nearing the end of her reproductive life at 24 years old. What a treasure she is for all to love at the San Diego Zoo.

These three pandas are adorable as they amble around and then decide to climb for a while. This little fella was very occupied eating his breakfast when the photo was shot.  What a priceless opportunity to watch these happy Giant Pandas at the San Diego Zoo.

Jurassic at the San Diego Zoo

Next on our stop today is the fearsome and Jurassic Crocodilians. It is always intriguing to watch these huge reptiles in their swampy home at the San Diego Zoo. The swamp is large and these big boys are right at home.

The long-snouted Indian Gharial is Jurassic at the San Diego Zoo. This Crocodilian with his thick skin and cold blood quite often strikes terror in the hearts of those who see him. For others, it is just very healthy respect. Crocodilians are very efficient hunters, have excellent hearing and keen eyesight.

These egg-laying reptiles are most at home in or near the water. Here you will see them floating like logs in the swamp.  They appear slow, but don’t be fooled into thinking they can not move. These reptiles can swim up to 20 miles an hour and hold their breath underwater for up to an hour. They are no slowpoke on land either. They can run on land up to 11 miles an hour.

These giants of the swamp have 60-110 teeth in their huge mouths. If a tooth wears out or gets knocked out, it is not a problem. A new one just moves into place. A Crock can go through as many as 8,000 teeth in his lifetime. Now that is a lot of teeth!

Crocodilians are meat eaters and will eat whatever they can catch in or near the water. Some favorite dinner delights are fish, birds, monkeys, turtles, frogs, pigs, and even deer and buffalo. It all depends on the size of the Crock. If they can catch and kill it, it is lunch!

Majestic Great Blue Heron

The next members of the zoo family we set out to spend time with are the large birds. The San Diego Zoo has beautiful large natural aviaries with many beautiful and majestic birds. This magnificent Great Blue Heron is a must-see on any zoo exploration.

This beautiful bird stands about 4 feet tall and has a wingspan of about 6 feet. His long sharp bill is something to avoid at all costs. With it, he feeds on fish who just happen to meander into the shallow water where he stands quietly like he has all the time in the world. He doesn’t mind a meal of frogs or even a small gopher or other land animals that get in the way of his powerful bill. He catches his prey and then swallows it whole.

Humans should avoid getting too close, or they risk getting nailed in the head or eye. They can often seem friendly and may come up to eat out of your hand in rehab where they are not so wary.  Their sharp bill can blind or even kill.

Great Blue Herons are natives of Bhutan. They are getting to be very rare in the wild and are protected worldwide. Take a few minutes and just watch them, they are amazing to observe.

Having Lunch With Mama

Our last stop of this morning is the Gorillas. This is always a place where we can easily spend an hour or so and get many unusual photos. These are some of the most entertaining characters at the San Diego Zoo Park in Southern California.  You just never know what to expect from these fun gorillas.

The Western Lowland Gorillas can be found in the very heart of the San Diego Zoo. These gentle giants spend their time in beautiful open meadows with cascading waterfalls, trees of different kinds, and climbing structures designed for their inquisitive minds. You really never know from one time to the next what you will see. They always seem to have a new idea for the day. These gentle giants are a lot of fun to just watch and see what they will do next.

We often enjoy spending a half-day at the zoo and then going more often. This way you don’t get too tired and overheated and can really enjoy the animals that call the San Diego Zoo home. There are many good places nearby to have lunch if you want to enjoy a nice lunch at the end of your zoo visit. There are also many restaurants on the zoo property.  Five options at the zoo for a great lunch are:

Treehouse Cafe
At the Parkway, San Diego Zoo
San Diego California 92101
PHONE: 619-231-1515
Menu: http://www.sandiegozoo.org

Albert’s Restaurant
2920 Zoo Drive
San Diego, California 92101
619-685-3200

Casual California dining and drinks served indoors or on the desk at the San Diego Zoo.

Poppy’s Patio
Zoo Place, San Diego 92101
619-231-1515

Front Street Cafe
2929 Zoo Drive
San Diego, California 92101
760-747-8702

So why not grab the family, pack day packs with snacks and water, and head for the San Diego Zoo. Be sure to pack the sunscreen. Nothing ruins that perfect day more than a sunburn. The best time to get there is in the morning if you want to observe feeding times. The mornings are usually just pleasant temperatures and perfect to walk and enjoy your zoo friends.

Strollers and wheelchairs can be rented at the ticket booth. You can also sign up for different special viewing options when buying your tickets. Maps of the zoo are located nearby.

Happiness Abounds At The San Diego Zoo In Southern California

Gorilla Lunch Time At The San Diego Zoo

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Gorilla Lunch Time At The San Diego Zoo

“Having lunch with mama,” is a gorilla blessing! Any day, is the perfect day, to go out to eat with mama. The Western Lowland gorillas at the San Diego Zoo love their meadow filled with many trees. A great number of these trees bear fruit, which is like paradise to the gorillas. With many beautiful waterfalls and lush green vegetation, food is plentiful at the zoo. A natural landscape complete with plenty of fruit is the perfect environment for content gorillas.

Gorillas live in social groups that include one adult male or silverback as they are called. He will usually have several females and their offspring.  The Western Lowland Gorillas prefer to keep their groups small and intimate. They prefer their family unites to be around 5 to 10 in size. This is considerably smaller than other species of gorillas. This could be because their main diet is fruit. Fruit trees can be sparse  in many of their natural environments. Most areas can only support a small size group. Each group is usually quite stable, with the same male retaining his leadership for many years. The female members of his harem often stay with the same male for life. This happens as long as everyone is getting along with each other. Thus the babies are content and raised as a member of one large happy family.

When the babies grow into puberty, the males and the females will usually leave the group. The males attach themselves to bachelor groups and will roam around until they have their own harem selected. Female gorillas usually attach to an older male rather quickly. Occasionally, two silverbacks will fight over leadership of a group, but this happens rarely. When it does, you will see much demonstration of strength and even on occasion a fight leading to the death of one. Generally, gorillas live in peace, both in their groups and when they are on the road looking.

Gorillas are able to breed at any time of the year. Their gestation time is just slightly shorter than that of humans. They most generally have only one baby at a time. Twins are very rare for the Western Lowland Gorilla. Gorilla babies are quite small, usually around 5 pounds. For the first three or four months, they will catch a ride with their mother. She will continue to nurse them for at least three years. Mama is very attentive! She spends many hours a day bonding with her little one. Each little one will usually get at least four years of her undivided attention. Sometime after that fourth year, she will breed again.

The Western Lowland Gorillas spend most of their day looking for food, eating, and resting. Since over 50% of their food is fruit, this is their major job. Adult males can often eat close to 50 pounds of food a day. That is a healthy appetite! Is it any wonder, that having a special lunch with mama is the highlight of the day?

If you are looking for a special place to spend the day, why not visit The San Diego Zoo. Southern California has the perfect weather most of the year for a family adventure. Grab the family and head for the zoo. It is a perfect day for a zoo adventure.

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Desert Big Horn Sheep At The San Diego Zoo

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The Desert Big Horn Sheep

The desert Big Horn Sheep welcomes you to the San Diego Zoo. The days are sunny and nice in San Diego. You will find the Big Horn Sheep resting in the sun. They love the Southern California Desert climate. They may not seem to be the most exciting of animals, but wait till you get to know them. Things may change when you get acquainted. They are avid climbers and enjoy a good audience. They can live in some of the worlds steepest and harshest environments. Take time to hang out for a while and get to know these most amazing local and talented animals.

The Desert Big Horn Sheep can be found in the wild from the San Jacinto Mountains near the town of Palm Springs, California, to the United States-Mexico border. They love the beautiful Southern California high desert. Did you know that these sheep were very surefooted? Amazingly, they only walk on their third and fourth toes of each foot. The bottom of each foot is very soft, making them the magnificent surefooted climbers that they are. Their ability on the rocks is stunning. They are a walking local wonder at the San Diego Zoo.

Both the males and the females have a nice set of horns. However. the male has the largest rack of horns which he uses against other males quite often. It is not uncommon for male Big Horn Sheep to engage in head butting. In the wild, things can get quite intense during the breeding season. Things stay fairly calm at Condor Ridge in the San Diego Zoo. There is only one male in residence. The females are not known to engage in this exciting activity.

These beautiful big horn sheep live on both sides of the border. They often wander across Highway 8 between San Diego County and Mexico. It is not unusual to see them in the high desert areas of Highway 94 also. These magnificent sheep rule the high desert and the border means nothing to them.  They are also seen crossing Highway 2 between San Diego and Baja California. The Desert Big Horn Sheep are truly international. Those that live at Condor Ridge are fortunate. They do not need to dodge cars to move from ridge to ridge. They are free to roam over 1,800 acres of desert. Life is good at the San Diego Zoo.

This fantastic sheep loves living life on the edge! The edge of the canyon is their home. They move from rock to rock, crevice to crevice. If you are looking for a local adventure, then come on out to The San Diego Zoo. Here you will find the most talented Desert Big Horn Sheep. Take a few minutes and you will quickly become friends. Watch them interact with each other during times of playful activity. They love their environment at Condor Ridge. Things can really get exciting at Condor Ridge! These amazing sheep love to climb and jump!

So pack up the family and head for the San Diego Zoo. The Desert Big Horn Sheep are waiting!

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The South American ‪Guanaco‬ At The San Diego Zoo

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The South American ‪Guanaco‬

What could be better than getting to make friends with a South American Guanaco?What a joy! These beautiful and graceful animals are related to the camel. They have a soft woolly coat that is treasured by weavers, knitters, and those who crochet. They are extremely easy-going and over the years were domesticated. The Llama and the Alpaca are the results of their domestication. What a treasure to be able to use their wool. Their under-belly, hind quarters, and the backs of their slender legs are most generally  white. The Guanaco’s narrow head, tall straight ears, and back of their neck are most often gray. It is unbelievably soft. It is much softer than the wool of sheep. All three of these fibers are an asset to any needle worker. The Guanaco is amazing!

When standing at attention, they are less than 4 feet tall at the shoulders. They are much shorter and smaller than their cousin, the camel. The male Guanaco can often weigh up to 265 pounds. They appear much slimmer and more delicate than the camel and they have no hump. Know that appearance is deceiving, as they are extremely strong and durable.

Due to their even temperament, sure footedness, and just all around dependability, they make awesome pack animals. They have the patience of a saint. These wonderful pack animals seemed to know where to plant their feet. They handle small canyon trails like a pro. This was yet another reason they were domesticated and we now have Llamas. The Llama makes wonderful pack animals, just as their ancestor, the Guanaco. If you need a dependable pack animal, you will want a domesticated Guanaco or Llama. Life is steady and sure with a Guanaco.

Another ability that was quickly recognized is their worth as guard animals. They make awesome guards for flocks of sheep or goats. Thus you often see their domesticated version, the Llama, guarding the flock. When predators do come for a visit, the whole neighborhood knows it. It is usually a cougar or a wolf looking for a meal. Their deathly shrill-like scream will wake up the dead. At the San Diego Zoo, if a trainer happens to walk past their enclosure with a wolf, the whole pack will begin screaming. A predator is a predator, even on a leash. Guanacos and Llamas are worth their weight in gold.

If you need an animal that can make their way fast on uneven and desert terrain, you will want the Guanaco. They are avid runners and can be clocked at 40 miles an hour. Baby Guanacos called guanaquitos or chulengos are avid runners soon after birth. The Guanaco is not shy around water. They are excellent swimmers and treasure a day lying around in a stream in the country-side.  If you want a good running buddy, then the you will want a guanaquito. The two of you can grow and run together, and when you need a break, find a stream.

So, when was the last time you spent a few minutes admiring the magnificent Guanaco? If you have never spent time with these trustworthy animals from South America, then why not grab the family and head for the zoo? The weather is usually perfect for a day at The San Diego Zoo.

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The Adorable Meerkat At The San Diego Zoo

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The Meerkat At The San Diego Zoo

This adorable meerkat is a bundle of joy. You will find him at the San Diego Zoo. He is cleaver and fun! He is a member of the Mongoose family and comes from South Africa. This meerkat, like all meerkats, lives underground in burrows. Around 40 of these cute little animals form a group, called a mob or sometimes a gang. If one of these little guys is adorable and cute, what about 40? A mob of meerkats must be a riot! What fun to watch!

The meerkat mob is fascinating. Yes, there are security in numbers, but there is more. They keep companionship with each other.  They play and frolic with each other throughout the burrow. They also spend a lot of time grooming each other. This keeps the mob a tight family unit and safe from outsiders. They may be mostly family, but it is not necessary to be family to be in the mob. There is usually one pair that is the head of the mob. They also have the most offspring. What a deal is that!

Over the years the meerkat has adapted to the dusty and arid Kalahari Desert in South Africa.   Take a look at those dark patches around the eyes. Are they mob makeup? No, not really, they help to control the glare of the sun. I am sure that comes in handy at the San Diego Zoo also. Then check out those long pupils! Now that surely gives them strong side vision. All those special accessories and a special cover for the eye when burrowing. They have like a thin film that protects their eyes from the dirt and other things in the earth. Even their fur is thin and their skin is dark. This helps to protect them from getting a sunburn. These little fellows are really well equipped!

Another special piece of equipment are their scent pouches that are under their tails. Much like a dog marks his territory, so do the meerkat mobs. The problem comes when two mobs mark the same area. These cute little adorable meerkats can be vicious in a fight. They solve their problems by having fights that are brutal and end up in someone’s death. They fight to the death, much like a street gang in our cities. The results are almost always tragic and sad.

Like all small animals, the meerkat is a delicious treat for larger animals. The eagle, jackal, and falcon all find meerkat on the menu a delicacy. When the mob is out looking for food, there is always one mob member on guard. If danger presents itself, he whistles or barks and all run for cover. There are many emergency holes and each meerkat knows where they are. The guard makes a different warning sound if it is a land threat or a threat from the air. This is all just part of mob teamwork!

Another awesome thing about the meerkat is that they have a matriarchal society. The females are slightly larger than the males and yes, grandma is in charge! The dominate female usually has several litters of pups a year. She spaces them out so they come during times of plenty. It takes a lot of food to feed all those hungry mouths.

Not only do the mob have guards, but they have babysitters. The busy mom has lots to do looking for food to feed her growing family. Others will stay behind to teach the young while mom is out looking for food with the gang.  Here in the burrow, they learn how to hide when there is danger. They also learn how to hunt. There are always many insects in the burrow for them to learn with. Life in the burrow is not dull! Another lesson they learn early is how to clean and groom themselves and each other. Deep bonds are formed in these babysitting clubs. The pups spend most of the day in play. When they are happy and content they purr, much like a kitten. The happier they are, the louder the purr.

Sometimes it becomes necessary for the mob to move to a different burrow. These babysitters must help to carry the pups.  Since mom has so many litters close together, she can not do it all. The more babysitters a burrow has, the higher the survival rate is for these precious pups.

If you have never spent some time observing a meerkat, you do not know what you are missing. The mob is happy and content at the San Diego Zoo! While not come on out and meet the gang? They love visitors and will do their best to entertain you. So hop in the car and head for the zoo. Fun is waiting at the San Diego Zoo!

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Flamboyant Flamingo‬ ‪‎Lagoon‬

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Flamboyant Flamingo Lagoon

Flamboyant Flamingo Lagoon at the San Diego Zoo in Southern California is alive with color. These vibrate colored Flamingos delight the young and the young at heart. As for the staff, they must be bewitched. What a delight to the eye! Can you imagine coming to work daily with such beautiful birds? The Flamboyant Flamingo Lagoon is the talk of the zoo! Kids can’t believe it. Adults are overtaken by their beauty. How amazing this friendly bird is. How quirky and fun! Is there any other location any prettier? These beautiful flamingos must be the talk of the zoo!

How can you help but be instantly drawn to these amazing birds? With their vibrate color, they make the most magnificent welcome committee as you enter the zoo. With over 100 of these marvelous  Caribbean Flamingos to greet you, you will be quickly captivated by their quirky behavior. They are utterly amusing! Their theme seems to be, “the more the merrier.” You can also view a smaller colony in the zoo’s Urban Jungle.

Three large and beautiful beach areas, an island just for nesting, and a spacious lagoon of  water that gently circulates  make the flamingos know that they are at home. So how can we be sure they are happy in their home at the San Diego Zoo? Perhaps because they continually lay their eggs and hatch chicks.

If you are fortunate enough to be at the zoo during the time the colony is mating, it is fun to watch the males courting the females. They do not always mate each year. In years of drought they will not mate. Happy flamingos will have lots of mud at nesting time. At the zoo, there is no drought! The entire colony of birds mate at one time. So there will either be no baby chicks in the colony or lots of baby chicks in the colony.

The flamingo reaches sexual maturity sometime around 6 years of age. It is then that they are ready to breed. These beautiful flamingos construct their nests deep down in the mud with stones and feathers. Building the nest is hard work! It can take both parents about 6 weeks to build the perfect nest.  In these nests that are about 12 inches high, they will lay their egg. There they lay one chalky-white large egg. It is very rare for a flamingo to lay more than one egg. The parents take turns incubating the egg and protecting it from harm. They incubate the egg for about 31 days before it then hatches. The entire colony will help in the raising up of the young chicks.

The babies will have feathers that are gray and white. It will be about 3 years before they sport feathers of pink, orange and red. The beautiful colors of the Caribbean Flamingo is actually due to their diet. Their diet of algae, plankton , aquatic insects and small shrimp is what gives the flamingo their beautiful feathers of pinks, oranges, and red. When the flamingo sheds, he loses his colorful feathers. He then will start over like a juvenile. In time, with a continued good diet, he will once again sport his flamboyant colors.

So when is the last time you have spent a few hours with the flamboyant Caribbean Flamingo? Maybe it is time to make your way to the San Diego Zoo. The flamingo welcome committee will be waiting.

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Southern White Rhino Born At The Zoo

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Southern White Rhino Born At The Zoo

Southern White Rhino Born At The Zoo! Meet Kianga, born October 13th, 2015 to her mother Kacy and her father Maoto. What a bundle of joy she is, weighing in at around 120 pounds. In her native Swahili, Kianga means sunshine. She is definitely a bundle of sunshine!

She is the second calf of Kacy and Maoto. What a beautiful calf she is. She is healthy and very  rambunctious. This Southern White Rhino calf is on the go. Her energy level is very high and she is ready to explore her world. The San Diego Zoo welcomes Kianga!

Kianga is the 94th Southern White Rhino calf to be born at the San Diego Safari Park. The Southern White Rhino, unlike her cousin, the Northern White Rhino, numbers around 18,000 in the wild. The Southern White Rhino is classified as “near threatened.” The Northern White Rhino is almost extinct. They number just 4 in the world. These beautiful Rhino’s suffer greatly from poaching. Their horns are considered valuable in some cultures for medicine, though this is not been found to be true. There are also many products made from their horns. Their horns are considered to be highly favored and they are sought after by poachers. Because of all this, it is with great excitement that another Southern White Rhino is welcomed into San Diego’s family of Rhinos.

Kacy is an excellent mother and Kianga is thriving under her care. She is very easy-going with the other Rhinos, but is making sure they keep a safe distance. She is quite protective of little Kianga. This little Southern White Rhino is so blessed to have such a caring mother. Not even her father, Maoto,  has been able to come near. For sure, no rhinos are allowed near Kacy’s baby, not even daddy.

So what is in store for Kianga these next few years? For the first year Kianga will nurse from Kacy. During this first year she should gain around 100 pounds each month. She will not be considered full-grown until she is three. As she grows, she will learn to graze on grasses. She will also learn to keep her enormous head and lips very near to the ground. By the time she is three, she will have gained her full adult weight. By the third year she should weigh between 4,000 and 5,000 pounds. Now that is one hefty teenager ready to make it on her own!

Rhinos in general are considered Ambassadors from the past. They have a very ancient lineage. Their ancestors are believed to have existed millions of  years ago. Some believe they walked the earth 55 million years ago. What a family tree this little Southern White Rhino has!

There has been over 100 species of rhinos known in the world. Now, there are only five. Two live in Africa and 3 in Asia. All rhinos have two massive horns, and very wide chests. Their skin is very thick, but can be easily damaged. They have very horrible eyesight, and have been known to charge because they are not sure what is happening. They have very keen hearing, however. One of their greatest pleasures is rolling in the mud. No mud, no problem! A good dust bath is awesome also. The mud and dust protect them from the sun and from insects. Now that is frugal preventive medicine.

So what is keeping you from having a Southern White Rhino Adventure at the San Diego Safari Park? Visiting the Rhinos is easy and fun. And of course while you are there, you will want to meet the rest of the clan at the Safari Park. Grab the kids and head for the zoo. Explore the vast African Plains and the amazing Asian Savanna, What fun it will be! You can do it all this, on motorized trikes. What fun for the whole family. The older members of the group have no worries. The motor will do most of the peddling for you. The tour comes complete with a guide and lasts a little over an hour. This will be a true family fun time at the zoo.

The San Diego Zoo has many places you can observe the animals. You will also find trams, where you can see it all from the air. And of course there are Safaris. There are many choices at the zoo. Adventure is waiting! No need to wait a day longer. Pack the kids in the car and head for the San Diego Zoo. This will be a fun day of exploration and adventure. And while you are there, say hi to our newest Southern White Rhino, Kianga.

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