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Sep. 22, 2006
Zoo trip
Our family went to the zoo this week. We purchased a pass, so we'll be able to get in for 'free' for a whole year! It was so fun to see Daughter learning in such a supportive environment like that butterfly house. The volunteers and keepers were answering her questions and knew every type of butterfly in there. She could get up close and watch the probiscus uncurl, she saw examples of butterflies eating nearly rotten oranges, and some sipping out of a nectar feeder. It was awesome! It was fairly cold, so we were fortunate enough to see a ton of them on the undersides of the trees, just dangling there. We watched some butterflies emerging from their coccoons, and it was just amazing!
The aviary wasn't as exciting, but she loved the amphibian house and reptile house. We got really close to an alligator (well, there was the glass between us, but it felt totally scary to be eye to eye with such a magnificant beast) We walked into a rainforest habitat, with free ranging frogs, a sloth and an iguana. We talked about environments and the differences between them.
We walked with the kangaroos in the new habitat, and while none of them crossed our path, we were really close to them! There was even a volunteer with pelts from both a male and female kangaroo so we could feel the difference (females are MUCH softer!) and there was another volunteer with pictures of a newborn joey in the pouch! I was surprised that the zoo would allow guests inside the kangaroo enclosure, as I recall from other studies that kangaroos can get rather aggressive. I truly hope that no one befalls any misfortune in there, but I felt safe with my wonderful Husband there. At 6'2" he's pretty impressive himself. I don't know if we'll go alone, just me and Daughter, but you never know. I might feel brave.
There's also the amazing seal and polar exhibit at our zoo, totally worth the zoo pass, but kind of a disappointment as the polar bears were all outside, not swimming over us like in the summer. Must be the weather. I got a GREAT shot of daughter with the polar bear in the background. We talked about what polar bears eat, where they're found in the wild and a little bit about the saftey of the enclosure and why the bear can't get out, even if he looks like he can, and looks really close to us.
We took a break mid day, and dined outside, among the most beautiful peacocks you have ever seen! They were total beggars, but had absolutely NO fear of the visitors. We caved, and gave one of them a tiny bit of a fry, and gave another one a single Cheerio. It was awesome to dine near these strikingly beautiful birds. They are so intimidating when they're RIGHT THERE next to you - it was almost scary to see them so in-your-face. Like if I hadn't surrendered the fry, he'd have pecked me in the eye! (I know the glasses would've saved me, but still, SCARY!!)
The bears were adorable in that grizzly way, the white rhinos were impressive in size and bulk, the hippo was OUT of the water, grazing and browzing on grass and brush. The giraffes were tall, the zebras were striped, the family's feet were hurting, and the train back to the front of the zoo was closed. I remember getting out of there, but it seemed to take twice as long to get out as it did to get to the back of the zoo! You know that feeling, don't deny it!
I would write more but I'm actually exhausted today, and am watching Marie and Adam tomorrow evening from 10-midnight to cover that shift gap for my friend 'Lynn'. I need to be up on my sleep or I'll never make it home safely!
Take care, friends!
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