A quick glance at the weather map showed me that I might catch a break in the constant rain we've had lately so I hurried off to visit my animal friends. I learned that one of the attractions during Christmas holiday week is scheduled feeding time so eeeep, if you weren't careful, you got trampled by a thundering herd of people charging from one area to the next.

I managed to see the hippo feeding but gave up on the others. I always feel kinda guilty, taking up a "big person" space at the window when there are so many little kids who want to watch. I also had some battery issues today - grrr. Anyway, here are a few pictures.

"Good Morning, Angela" said the giraffe and promptly took himself off into the barn.

A keeper told me that the giraffes stay in their compound during the wet weather because a fall on the slippery ground can be very dangerous for them, with their long, lanky limbs.
Melati graced me with a smile today. She was rather disgusted that I hadn't brought my backpack today, so after a token rap on the window, she turned her back on me and headed towards the rear of her area where she'd spied a keeper with an armload of food.
A young gorilla kept everyone in stitches with his antics. He dragged the sack up and down the tree, frequently over his head. This made him a big disoriented, and he'd wave his arms wildly and pretend to fall, grabbing onto a branch at the last minute.

Two penguins braved the cold to come out and greet the public. Their area has just been revamped, and I'm not sure they're used to it yet.

I kept waiting for this guy to jump in the water - he stood at the edge for ages. I think he decided to wait for a warmer day.
The penguins spent a while calling back and forth to each other like this one in the picture. I was not sure whether it was a mating call, but it was quite funny.
"Whaddya want?" snarled Lupe the hippo. "Can't you see we're waiting to eat?" Some of us get kinda crabby when we're hungry, heh heh.

Three (female) keepers had done a Martha Stewart on today's veggies.

A male keeper standing behind me snorted in derision, saying that the hippos would reject this nonsense and go for the leaves instead.

He was wrong. The hippos went for everything in sight - leaves, carrots, melons, whatever was around.

They swam stealthily underwater and came up with a "whoooosh" on the food, devouring it in one gulp.
If you looked carefully, you could almost imagine them smacking their lips and burping afterwards.
Aaaaaah, that's better. Nothing like a full tummy on a cold day. :)

My last stop was the Red Panda area where I saw that finally the pandas had come down from the trees.

Wouldn't you know it! Clear shots and my second battery was dying.
They were adorable, delicately choosing and eating leaves. They didn't seem to be the slightest bit bothered at the "Oooooh, soooo cute!" squeals from the eleventy-seven kids clustered around the fence. And they weren't insulted by adults calling them monkeys, lemurs and raccoons either, bless their hearts.

"Ready for my closeup, Ms. Angela" And with that, my battery finally fizzled out.

Despite the constant crush of humanity, it was a fine day indeed.

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