I've managed to get to the zoo in nearly every city and country I've visited. Where else can I see giraffes and elephants, tigers and lions, penguins and hippos?
I've had some cool animal encounters along the way, like when an Elephant sneezed on my friend Mike, or when Cincinnati's baby Hippo, Fiona, floated into view followed by her more than huge mama. I didn't realize hippos were so big! A Lion roared when my daughter and I were just feet away, sending shivers down our spines.
On one zoo visit many years ago, my young brother was riding on my dad's shoulders as we paused to enjoy the graceful giraffes. He reached up to try to touch a giraffe. One of the stately giants noticed him, walked over to the fence and reached down to lick his entire arm with her very long black tongue. My brother loved it! My mother nearly died.
My husband's electric scooter has caused some interesting animal reactions. One time a Siberian Tiger followed him back and forth across the front of its enclosure. He still asks why we can't have a tiger for a pet.
On one zoo visit I played a half hour game of toss-the-hay with a playful Elephant. Each time she tossed me a gather of hay, she lifted her trunk and seemed to laugh in delight. Then she looked me straight in the eye as she waited to see if I would toss it back. How could I refuse her invitation to play? I think she was glad to find a willing friend that day. My smiling Elephant was created in her honor.
Sloths are hard to see when they're just hanging about in the treetops. But when one is motivated by food, it's movement becomes an interesting study in slow fluid motion.
Once I was watching a group of Hippos playing a laid back game of keep away in their pool using an oil drum as a ball! What fun! Penguins present more fun in black and white. I could spend hours watching them hop and squabble, then dive and swim.
Grandfather Mountain, a local nature preserve, is home to a playful family of Otters. They are always up to new tricks.
I have never met a Moose in person. Have you?
Check out the Ornaments page for Penguins playing Santa.
Black Bears are native to these Blue Ridge Mountains. Neighbors have seen them lumbering through the woods and pastures near our home but I haven't yet been so lucky.
