The final leg of my visit unfolded quickly. First, the
restrooms! It was a long trip from Washington, DC... But, then to backside of
the South American small animal area. And here I want to reflect on an obvious
choice that this zoo has made. Rather than build some year-around structure,
they have chosen to create large, fair-weather habitats. This means that when
it's too cold, these animals are not on display. But the rest of the time, they
have spacious, complex habitats. I think they've made the better choice for the
animals. So what did I see? Cotton-toped Tamarins, Ocelot, Brazilian Agouti,
and various ducks. What was not out and about? White-face Coatimundi, perhaps
it was just too cool for them.
And then I visited the Andean Speckled Bear. She was
awesome. I wondered if she knows that another Andean Speckled Bear has just
arrived at this little zoo? A male from Ecuador captured in the wild and
certain to be destroyed was sequestered for this zoo to join with her and
hopefully produce off-spring. It is a major step for this little zoo and a
wonderful genetic addition to the Species Survival Program of AZA zoo's. But
for today. She was a happy enough amabassador of her species.
I left with a visit to the North American River Otters, but
they were "No Encasa". And the area at the East Entrance where the
Bobcats were, as well as, adjacent open space was all cordoned off and part of
some construction project.
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