Most of my posts are about pleasant things -- with the occasional rant about things that perturb me!

Monday, December 27, 2010

ZOO MIAMI

ZOO MIAMI is a fantastic zoo (if animals can't live in the wild, this is the next best place).  Besides all the animals and birds, the gardens and trees make it a pretty place to just walk around.  There is a world-class aviary (my favorite part) with many different species of birds.
(Click on photos to enlarge.) 
This is a female baby hippo named Asali. She was born on 11/14/10 and this was her first day on display with her mother, Kelsey. She didn't stray far from her mother's side.  I thought she was about the cutest baby I have ever seen! 





 Mother Rhino
This is a female baby rhino born on August 23, 2010 (also my birthday). Her name is Ayana and she weighed 90 pounds at birth (also my birth weight). She was adorable and panicked when she realized her mother had moved away from her. She quickly caught up to her mom and then stayed by her side.









Besides the Wings of Asia aviary, there are many different
varieties of birds all over the zoo.






He caught a nice lizard for lunch!
I don't know what kind of crane this is,  but I know what
it is not.  It's not a Sandhill Crane - but looks similar to one.



Flamingos (oh, duh!)





Ibis
Pelicans


A lot of these birds look like pigeons - but fancy ones,
not the ones in my backyard.




Fish pond in the Wings of Asia Aviary.  These looked
like common giant goldfish to me, but I would
imagine that they are koi (another name for big
giant goldfish)








I looove this bird.  I was told it was some kind of
magpie; but, I am inclined to challenge that.












African Crowned Crane


 Black-Crowned Night Heron




 Stork (that's as specific as I can get)





 Kori Bustard



Baby female Harpy Eagle


 This was a very playful guy.



Black-throated Magpie Jay









This camel was looking right at me.  I didn't
think anything about it, until I realized he was
about to spit on me!

 I quickly stepped away!!
Ringtails
















 The meerkats were SO CUTE!





 Two asses
(I'm not calling them names - that's what they are!)

 No clue what this varmint is.

KOMODO DRAGON





 Hyena
 Tri-Colored Squirrel
(I have no idea if that's what this really is!)





 The gorilla was completely annoyed and NOT
AMUSED by the imbeciles knocking on the
glass and pointing at him (as he should be!)


 HUMANS ARE SUCH A BORE!


 Andean Condor
(the dead bunny is a little disturbing!)








Ostrich

This was a nasty altercation between an ostrich and
a giraffe (the ostrich started it!). 

 The ostrich appeared to have the upper hand.  The
giraffe ran away!

 The winner!







Sweet little koala bear



 Orange-rumped agouti (I am not making this up!).

 He got his feathers all ruffled!!


 Wattled Crane

 The warthogs were looking for dinner!
Daddy Warthog

Allegedly, this is a "New Guinea Singing Dog"
This is MY dog - she doesn't sing but I didn't
hear the New Guinea dog sing either!


Cuban Crocodile
 MORE REPTILES
 Poison Dart Frogs
 Iguana (maybe?)
 Crocodile

 Blue Poison Dart Frog
 10,000 year-old turtle
 Monitor sunning himself



He's up in the tree now!

 WARNING!   GRAPHIC IMAGES!!

A snake having his dinner (don't fret, the mouse
was already deceased from natural causes)







END GRAPHIC IMAGES

Zoo Miami is a great place  to walk around. There are lots of 
flowers, trees, picnic tables, and areas for kids to play in.
It was decorated very pretty for Christmas!





































This a nice playground area. 




 And if you get too tired walking around, you can take the train!



Jim & Margaret enjoying a day at the Zoo!