Woodland Park Zoo
July 20, 2006

It's a very bright, warm day today so I took a quick trip through the Zoo. By the end of it I had resigned myself to the fact that any pictures I could get would be through sheer luck. Between sun glare, shadows, and a gazillion people, it can be very difficult.

Eh, watching the animals is fun anyway, and once in a while I get lucky.

Just inside the North Gate, the new Carousel was looking good! It is, in fact, a resurrected old Carousel, and it should be ready for riding in late July or early August.
  A chain link fence surrounded the Carousel, but I was able to get a picture through the links.
  Next stop was the North American trail where I watched a hot bear cooling himself off in his pond.
 

Every so often, he'd stick his head underwater and blow huge amounts of bubbles. Then he'd splash the water with both paws, just like a little kid.

The other bear stayed well out of range.

  The River Otters were only interested in eating breakfast at this time. I think this one is eating carrots.
 

Hardly any of the orangutans were visible anywhere. I have no idea where they were.

Towan glanced up from his breakfast.

  Then he opened his mouth as if to say "Haha, lady - I've got food and you haven't!"
  A Siamang was sitting quietly in a tree. This is unusual because I've always seen a pair of them together, and because he is quiet.
  I managed to catch the Tapir in his pond too. While I was there, a woman came along with a toddler in a stroller. "Oh!" she said, and in the time it took for her to turn and pick the child up for a better look, this huge, ungainly Tapir ran out of sight. I had no idea they could move so quickly!
  Ahhh, one of my favorite smaller monkeys - the Lion-Tailed Macaque. He doesn't look quite as frowzy today.
  Mama Lion strides into the shade, staring at Papa Lion.
  The Lion King, however, is staring up in the air trying to find the source of a loud noise. (It was one of the local news helicopters.)
  At last I catch a glimpse of the little Red Panda again. It's been ages since I've seen him. Sometimes he looks so cuddly.
 

And sometimes not!

So that was my short trip for today.

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