It’s easy to be mindful watching animals enjoy the snow at a Great American Zoo. This beautiful tiger trotted over to greet us on a slow day after a March blizzard before he joined another tiger in play. Many animals were housed indoors on this cold day, but the snow-lovers…
Mama gorilla cradles her abdomen with tenderness and care as she awaits the blessed event. She seems to enjoy our attention as view her expanding figure behind the glass wall. Who wouldn’t want to save this beautiful species that is well-adapted to the enrichment, attention and safety of zoo life…
The staff member, who has been observing the delightful bond between Mother and Daughter Gorilla, shares some of their stories. We visit the zoo on one of the first days Mom has allowed Amani to venture off on her own to the playground. Mom is gaining confidence in her daughter,…
It is a joy to watch the baby gorilla, Amani, asking her mother’s permission before she scoots off to play on the Jungle Gym. Who could resist the soft, hopeful eyes of the baby who already knows that her Mother Knows Best? This baby gorilla wouldn’t consider departing her mother’s…
The white handed gibbons enjoy making the most of a cold, winter day by using their indoor playground instead of romping outdoors. The temperature is regulated Inside the PECO Primate Reserve for the comfort of the primates who share the space. Each species has a separate habitat that is equipped…
As native residents of warm Madagascar, the Ring Tailed Lemurs aren’t adapted to the cold, snowy weather of Philadelphia today. Thankfully, it is warm and cozy inside the PECO primate Reserve where they huddle together for a group shot. On a warmer day the lemurs might enjoy a romp through…
As we meander down the snow banked entrance to the primate reserve, we look forward to exploring the heated primate house. Here we will meet the ring tailed lemurs of Madagascar, the white handed gibbons of Asia, and the critically endangered western lowland gorilla from Africa. These animals prefer the…
Wherever we travel in the world, climate and vegetation is similar where latitude is the same. We can predict climate in other countries based on weather patterns for locations with similar latitude lines in the United States. Now, we discover that animals from opposite sides of the world can be…
When we visited the Amazon Rainforest in Peru, our local guide retrieved a green anaconda from a stagnant pond for us to take a closer look at this well-known reptile. Anacondas are good swimmers with eyes and nostrils at the top of their heads. Ponds and rivers are a great…
Today the Galapagos tortoise is a protected species, with a variety of subspecies according to island of origin, in its natural habitat on the islands off the coast of Ecuador. During the nineteenth century, this tortoise, which could live aboard ships for months without eating or drinking, was used as…