My first stop on my Total Eclipse cross-country road trip
was Chicago. I arrived from DC via
Amtrak's Capitol Limited line (my second time taking this route to
Chicago). The first object of my
time there was the Lincoln Park Zoo.
The Lincoln Park Zoo is one of two mid-range size zoo's in
the Greater Chicago area (the other being the Brookfield Zoo). It traces its founded to 1868 when a
pair of swans were introduced to the existing park. I would more accurately place its inception in 1874 when the
park purchased a Black Bear from the Philadelphia Zoo. One of its most notable characteristics
is that it's admission free--a very rare occurrence in zoo's anywhere in the
world. With lunch planned at the
Chicago Art Institution and our arrival at the zoo around 9:45 AM, my visit was
a fast one, fortunately the zoo is only 45 acres in size; however, I was only
able to see about 70-75% if its exhibits.
You are also reminded that beyond being a zoo, it is also a park. A park that is very well landscaped and
full of arboreal and floral delights.
A stunning view from one of the park's pedestrian bridges
south toward in the heart of Chicago.
Congrats to the landscape architects who saw the potential of this
strategic placement.
One of the zoo's
Common Ostriches,
Struthio camelus, as she
checks out her habitat first thing in the morning, puffing herself to
intimidate any unwanted intruders.
The zoo's Zebra stock are
Grevy's Zebra,
Equus grevyi, the
most common of the four species of zebra's maintained in North American
Zoo's. It's main distinguishing
characteristic is the narrowness and infrequent "branching" of it's
black stripes. They are really
beautiful animals. Isn't it a stunning pattern on his tail.
The Zoo's Small Mammal House is a decided 19th century
phenomenon. You'll find similar
structures at zoos in Philadelphia and Washington, DC. Architecturally beautiful, they
generally fail to impress me with their less than 21st century standards for
housing animals--even small ones.
At some point this Small Mammal House was renovated to
become just a small primate house and the size of the habitats was greatly
increased, as well as, given natural light through skylights. Here is a quartet of
Bolivian Gray Titi
Monkeys, Callicebus donacophilus, huddle up for a day's rest. They are by nature more active at dusk
and are semi-nocturnal. Their
enclosure was over two stories in height and wider than my house.
Nearby was the Regenstein Center for African Apes, featuring
habitats for both
Common Chimpanzees,
Pan troglodytes, and
Western Lowland Gorillas,
Gorilla gorilla gorilla. This is
the only species of Gorilla kept in North American Zoos, and all approximately
350 animals were born in these zoos.
Today, the AZA has a very extensive and comprehensive breeding program
encompassing all of these animals and transporting best candidates between zoos
annually to mate and maintain a broad, healthy and far more diverse gene pool
than in the wild. To compare these
cousins of ours with their endangers relatives in the wilds of Africa is a very
inaccurate thing to do.
In the
world of zoos, there are pinnacle species. Animals who's care and habitats are the focus of the most
care and quality. These include:
Western Lowland Gorillas, both Borneo and Sumatran Orangutans, Chimpanzees,
Bonobos, Amur, Malayan, and Sumatran Tigers, Asian and African Elephants,
Scimitar Oryx, Black and White Rhinoceros, Clouded, Snow, and Amur
Leopards--but of all of these Western Lowland Gorillas probably receive the
most consideration.
A bunch of
Chilean Flamingos,
Phoenicopterus chilensis,
chilling together.
Another beautiful structure was the Kolver Lion House.
Originally built in 1912, the Lion House maintains an
interior with vestiges of its original glory, while providing all of its feline
residents access to spacious exterior spaces with natural vegetation.
This
Jaguar,
Panthera onca, has chosen to rest inside on
this faux rock formation while access to the exterior portion of its habitat is
available.
Meanwhile, this
African Lion,
Panthera leo, is happy to
sleep outside.
The seal exhibit featured a pair of Gray Seals, Halichoerus
grypus. I know they are the only
members of their genus, but I honestly can't tell them apart from Harbor Seals!
They do love to swim on their backs!
A
Red River Hog,
Potamochoerus porcus, native to West
Africa. It is the most common of
the family Scuidae to be kept in North American zoos.
The last space I was able to explore was the Regenstein
African Journey, a structure that expanded the former Large Mammal House and
included
Pygmy Hippopotamus,
Choeropsis liberiensis, and
Meerkats,
Suricata
suricatta. Isn't this a great
photo of one?
Connected to the Regenstein African Experience is the
habitat for the zoo's
Black Rhinoceros,
Diceros bicornis. This female was out and prancing
around. The Black Rhinos are more
graceful than their White Rhino cousins.
Well, once you get to know them, you'll know what I mean.
A parting photo of more of the park/zoo's gardens.
