Tucson - Reid Park Zoo

Wednesday, 4 July 2007

There were not too many people in the zoo even though it was a public holiday. I am glad Michael and me got to spend some time there. We happened to be there in the middle of the day but that was okay because most of the paths were shaded by trees here and there.

We would probably have taken clearer and better pictures of the animals if they were not resting and hiding themselves from the sun. Anyway, here are some of the pictures that I think are worth sharing.

There were 2 areas to walk. This was the entrance to the animals of South America.



The following pictures are some of the animals that I managed to take pictures of:

Spectacled Bear (Andean Bear) - I wondered why they are called "Spectacled"


This squirrel appeared in my path and it was not bothered a single bit as I moved nearer and took pictures of it!

Can you see the Darwin's Rhea (Pterocnemia pennata) resting between the trees?

And the blacked colored Jaguar (Panthera onca) resting on the top of the rock?

Didn't see any sign board to the following area, but I knew from the tour map that we were visiting the animals of Asia.

There were 2 tigers (Panthera tigris). One was resting in a pool while this one walked in circle in the cage.


Children cooling themselves in the "Kenya Get Wet" area.

Do you know which one is the African elephant and which one is the Asian elephant? I was told their ears are different.


It was interesting watching this giraffe eating the hay. The giraffes were labelled as "The Tall Truth"

Can you see the 2 different sized animals?
The 2 White Rhinoceros (square-lipped rhinoceros)(Ceratotherium simum) were resting together while the Speke's Gazelle (Gazella spekei) walking.

This was the longest stop. I could just stand there watching 1 of the 2 Polar Bears (Ursus maritimus) swimming, how it swam to one end of pool and did a somersault turn like a freestyle swimmer in a competition! I would have love to feel the thick white/cream fur if there wasn't any glass panel between us. They were swimming next to the glass panel!

I learnt something today, a female peafowl is called a Peahen. This one is white in colour.

A male peafowl is called a Peacock. I had this impression that a peacock is a female because it has a beautiful tail. Like some other animal species, the male uses its beauty to attract the female! Actually during the walk I saw a peacock showing off his tail feathers!

Marabou Stork (Leptoptilos crumeniferus)

Last but not least, the Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus) sitting.

Michael said the Phoenix zoo is much bigger. I hope we get to visit that in the near future. I just love watching the animals and their behaviours.