San Diego Zoo - A to L

Wednesday September 30, 2009

I'm not a big fan of zoos and it would be fine with me if there were none, but I have to admit that we did enjoy our day at the zoo. As a kid I had wanted to see the world famous San Diego Zoo, and here we were. $63 for the two of us included use of Skyfari aerial tram, guided bus tour and express bus.

I failed to take a picture of the entrance
so this will have to do.

A IS FOR:
Anteater

Giant Anteater

This is kind of a mishmash of anteaters but I couldn't get a better shot. Trivia: Giant anteaters can fend off or even kill their main predators, big cats such as jaguars and pumas. Their sense of smell is 40 times more powerful than ours.

Antelope

Various antelopes - Top two: Cavendish's Dik Dik (and/or Red-flanked Duiker - not sure); bottom left: Speke's Gazelle maybe; bottom right: Southern Gerenuk.

Antelopes are one of my favourite animal groups. I read that the name antelope comes from a Greek word meaning 'brightness of the eye'.

Nubian Soemmerring's Gazelle

A pretty antelope that I've never heard of.

* * * * *

C IS FOR:

Condor (California Condor)

Condor sounds better than vulture. :-)

* * * * *

D IS FOR:
Drink

$4.50

* * * * *

E IS FOR:

Egret

I'm not sure it's an egret but that's my best guess.

Elephant

The zoo seems quite excited about the 7½ acre Elephant Odyssey. No wonder - it cost $45 million and took four years to create.

Glenn wanted to see elephants most of all because he'd never seen one in real life. I was amazed at how much dirt they could pick up with their trunks. If any African elephants were around, we didn't find them.

The elephant care center covers half an acre. I understand elephants get check-ups, feet cleanings and such done here. We saw elephants in these cages later when we went by later on a bus, but didn't have to time to stop and watch.

* * * * *

F IS FOR:

Flamingo

There were lots of a flamingos, a few spoonbills and other birds in this pond.

But I like this picture because it takes me back to how warm and peaceful it was at this spot.

* * * * *

G IS FOR:

Giraffe

Masai Giraffe

Our first view as we saw them from the express bus which we hopped on after wandering around on foot for a few hours.

We got off the bus for a closer look.

The tallest one figured something was up by a building and went to check it out. Two others followed him as he peered over to the other side.

They don't miss a trick. Moments later a guy showed up with food and soon six giraffes were following him. Note the pacing kind of gait.

The tall one was considerably larger than the rest. Imagine the system involved in getting blood to the head and down the legs, and look at how that neck can bend. I wonder if they get neck aches. Their hearts are two feet long.

This smaller one looked like a juvenile. What a beaut.

* * * * *

H IS FOR:

Hog

As wild hogs go, this is a rather attractive one, I think.

* * * * *

K IS FOR:

Koala

I was surprised how small they were - about the size of a baby. They were all dozing. Koalas only eat eucalyptus leaves but like the leaves of about three dozen varieties out of more than 600 different kinds of eucalyptus trees. They also eat a little dirt now and then to help with digestion.

* * * * *

Kudu

Lesser Kudu

I was looking forward to seeing Kudus since I never saw any in Tanzania, although I think the Greater Kudus are much grander looking than these lesser types which are still lovely.

* * * * *

L IS FOR:

Lapwing

An interesting looking bird.

Lioness

To me, lions never look right in zoos.

Llama

On the express bus the driver stopped to chat to a couple of workers who came along with llamas. There seems to be great camaraderie among staff at this zoo.