We're All Animals

On my first full day back in California, I went to the San Francisco Zoo with my family. It was awesome...my mom, dad, and brother are all just as excited about looking at animals as I am (that is, very, very excited), so we were happy campers. Also, the San Francisco Zoo is the least depressing, most hospitable zoo I've ever been to...the inhabitants seem genuinely content, and most of them (excepting the polar bear, of course) come from climates that are extremely similar to that of the Bay Area, so they feel right at home.

My little brother (who's just recently surpassed me in height!) and a giraffe (who remains taller than both of us).

Delicious leaves!

I bet you can guess which one is the alpha male.

Chillin'.
Family observing a bird of sorts.

Brother and a monkey.

Our closest relative!

Sleepy koala.

Brother being horrified by the horrid parrots.

Bear! And a stray seagull.

Mid-zoo snack: Vanilla soft serve!

Me retreating slumped in defeat because all the sheep in the petting zoo refused to be petted, and would rather hide under signs.

Lemur sitting like a little long-tailed person.

Legitimate Lions and Tigers and Bears

On Wednesday, when I had a slight reprieve from my cold symptoms, we subwayed north out of Manhattan to the Bronx Zoo. I have mixed feelings about zoos in general: On one hand, I'm crazy about seeing animals in person, especially animals I don't normally get to hang out with (that might not be entirely true...I get pretty giddy around cats and dogs, too). On the other, I have to wonder if the animals are truly happy and fulfilled in their simulated environment, which, however large, is just a fraction of the size of their natural habitat, and if they're incredibly annoyed by the constant gawking and squawking and camera flashing of zoo patrons. Do they get sick of each other? Do they long for a predator or some prey to be introduced to liven things up a bit? However, on the whole, the animals at the Bronx Zoo seemed pretty okay with their situation, and not super listless. Especially the grizzly bears! But we'll get to that later.

While on a zoo expedition, it's necessary to blend in with the locals.

Tree kangaroos! Not actually kangaroos or related to kangaroos, but it's true that they do live in trees!

Grooming!

Panthers. I want one.

The peacocks at least got to roam free about the park at their leisure.

Lioness!

Lion! Or as all the parents were exclaiming to their various small children, "Look at Simba!"

Grizzly bear! The very bear that graces California's state flag! Though I've been camping in various mountainy areas of the state many many times over the course of my life, I had to wait to travel to New York, far away from their natural habitat, to see some.

All four grizzlies! They were super active, running and climbing and digging and being friendly with each other.

Such a cutie!

And then tigers! Devin was pretty stoked.

Plus, he's serious about their survival.

Giant kitty!

An unofficial on-and-off-again inhabitant.

Zoo gate.

Sea lion!

Welcome to the Monkey House.

Mister lemur has a staring problem.

"Man, it's tired in here."

This week hasn't been much of a spring break for me, what with the cold, a sturdy amount of homework, and working my usual hours at the library, so it was nice to have a little adventure.