The Local Zoo

I rode an elephant the other day.

We took some out of town friends to our local zoo.  It's a small zoo - the kind where they can't afford to build cages that replicate a "natural environment" so the animals are just in cages or behind fences.  If you've never been to a zoo like this, you need to try it.  You get to see the animals from much more close up.  Even if the big cats are sleeping, they won't be in a cave where you can't see them.  (Tip: If you want to see the big cats in action, call the zoo ahead of time to find out when they are fed.)

You won't miss out if you like all the classic animals - these zoos usually have most of the favorites like giraffes, monkeys, elephants, tigers, zebras, etc.  Since the place is small, you can probably see everything they have in an afternoon, and you'll actually remember most of what you saw. 

Sometimes you'll see something you've never seen before at any zoo.  Our zoo had a couple of cassowary birds.  This bird looks like a prehistoric animal, with its horned beak and strange, intelligent eyes.  I felt like I was looking at a dinosaur.

And sometimes you'll get to do something you've never done before.  Our zoo offers elephant rides and of course we had to do it!



There were quite a few pregnant sheep at our zoo and I swear, one of them was in the process of giving birth as she was walking around.  Either that or she had the worst case of hemorrhoids ever.  I wish we could have stayed to find out.  Llamas and one huge pig strolled around the zoo with us, not caged in any way except by the perimeter fence. 

 

Best of all, at zoos like this it's ok to feed the animals!