Zoo Post

No stitching at all in this post, so if that's all you're looking for, feel free to move along to the next blog in your reader!  I had an appointment this morning at the Naval Medical Center at Balboa (my first follow-up with an opthamologist since I moved, for my Thygeson's Keratitis), so I decided to drop by the zoo since its only another mile down the road.

First up was a really interesting plant.  Nope, no photo effects, that really is a bright red "pine cone" in the middle of what looks like fern fronds.  Of course I wasn't smart enough to snap a pic of the label saying what it is.

Next up was a slightly unexpected encounter with the Bactrian (2 hump) camels.  It seems the boy (go figure) was being stubborn and wouldn't go where the keepers wanted him to.  He's in rut right now.

The poor female had a bite wound on her rump (from guess who) and it needed treated.

Next up were some really soft and cuddly sweeties, or at least that's what they look like.  They actually have some pretty vicious looking claws.

This little guy was just snuggled up on his branch taking a nap.

The next picture-worthy animal was Umngani.  She's known for being very photogenic, having the longest tusks, and also being the messiest elephant in the herd.  She was certainly photogenic today, posing right up at the fence so everyone could admire her.

Unfortunately the Zoo is mourning the loss of 2 elderly elephants that had to be euthanized within the last week, Cha Cha and Cookie.  Cookie was 56 and had been suffering from geriatric issues for a while, and on high level of pain medication.  It got to the point where it was just more humane to send her to her next life.  Cha Cha was 43 and had undergone emergency gastric surgery on Christmas Day, and had never recovered.

The 2 lions were hiding on the far side of their enclosure, but both the male and female jaguars were out for viewing.  The male is supposed to be a real people person, and his keeper said he'd come right up to the fence to have his head scratched.

The keeper didn't have such complimentary things to say about the female.  She seems to be a conniving witch that is watching for someone to make a mistake so she can kill them.  The keepers are definitely careful around her.  They're hoping for some jaguar babies soon, with a better outcome than the last litter.  It seems the female is still learning how to be a mother.  She carried the litter to full term, birthed them, cared for them for 2 days, then ate them.  Yep, that's right, sorry I grossed you out, but that's nature, the good and the bad.

I caught the polar bears just seconds before they went inside for their lunch.  No, that isn't a brown bear, its just a very, very dirty polar bear that had been rolling in the dirt all morning.

At the panda enclosure both mom and the 2 year old baby were out.  You saw pictures of mom last time, so  here's a picture of  Yun Zi, eating some lunch.  He's getting pretty big and not really looking like a baby anymore.

On my way out I walked right by a peacock eating his lunch.  I know peacocks are stunning, but this one was really beautiful.  I don't think I've ever seen one with such a bright and iridescent blue head and neck.

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope I didn't bore you (or gross you out) with animal pictures.  I promise the next post will be stitching.  I'm madly trying to finish up a birthday gift for my mother before she and dad get back from their camping trip.  Right now I need to play with Annie a bit.  She's being very vocal and letting me know I owe her some attention for leaving her alone all morning.