Our new new partner/parent university...the one that bailed us out last Spring when it looked like we might go under, hosted a day at the zoo for faculty, staff, and families! When I say hosted, I mean we got a parking pass, a zoo ticket, and a great lunch, cook-out style with hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, pasta salad, cookies, fountain drinks...the works. I have to say it was the nicest single outing I've ever had on an employer's tab. If you are not familiar with it, Columbus Zoo is big for a walking zoo. We were unable to cover all of it, even though we walked five miles, according to The Bug's workout calculator. Here are some of the pics I took. I chose to use the pocket Nikon instead of my DSLR, but they cleaned up pretty good.
HEART OF AFRICA
The other lions were in the shade, but this one was sunning
Happily the lions are separated from the gazelles
Wildebeest herd roaming free
Zebras milling about
East African Crowned Cranes!
Giraffes and ostriches and guinea fowl
A lion entertaining the kids...or contemplating lunch
Cheetah in the shade
Giraffes and a gazelle
I see why they have mesh on the trees...
I see why they have mesh on the trees...
Awww...looks sleepy
They look fast standing still
Ostriches
Giraffes playing to the crowd
But I like this scene better
Beautiful!
Watch for crocs!
Flamingo says none in these waters...
This Black Rhino was as close as we got to Asia this time
ARCTIC ANIMALS
Reindeer!
I named this one Sven
Arctic Fox
Polar Bears
This one was being silly
NORTH AMERICA
Bison!
Bald Eagle
Bobcats
Cougar/Puma
Moose
Prong-horned Antelope
Antelope Butts
Lovely Trumpeter Swans!
Great Blue Heron
Sea Turtle...so graceful
Manatees!
SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE
Aldabra Giant Tortoise!
A younger one
Humboldt Penguins!
DOWN ON THE FARM
Free-range sparrows and a chipmunk
Jacob Sheep!
Goats!
And, um...this (The Bug's favorite)
Male Angora Goat, I think
Male Angora Goat, I think
