Cape May County Zoo - NJ: part 4 of 5 (from July 9)

At the juncture that comes at the end of the small animals habitat you arrive a food court and another elevated trail that will lead through a hardwood forested area with some animal habitats created in it, to a series of open spaces that are home to the African hoofstock, ostriches and giraffes.  The entire use of elevated boardwalks is not only well done, but ensures full access to all areas while giving everyone exposure to wild areas.

Before you arrive at the open space you will come upon two enclosed habitats for larger cats: Snow Leopards and Amur Leopards and a habitat in the woods for the Red Pandas.

The Snow Leopards were elsewhere at the zoo and the sole Amur Leopard was present, but not feeling terribly photogenic.

 Amur Leopard

 Across the pathway, the Red Panda was home in his huge enclosure, but he wasn't feeling very social either choosing to sleep facing away from the path.

Red Panda

 Coming to the open space at the end of the pathway is a transition from the dappled shade of the woods to the bright sun in these open pastures.  The first is a shared habitat for the Reticulated Giraffe and a pair of Common Ostrich.  It was hard to tell because they were so far away, but I think the male may have been sitting on a nest as is the custom for males to raise the chicks.

Common Ostriches

 Reticulated Giraffe

 It was a great delight to see the newborn I was unaware that there had been a birth at this zoo.  I had planned to return home via Philadelphia so I could visit the Philadelphia Zoo and hopefully catch a glimpse of their newborn Reticulated Giraffe.

 The trail led to a gazebo that provided views of all the animal habitats.

 Ankole-Watusi Cattle were visible in a pasture beyond the Giraffes.

The open space to the left of the gazebo was home to Eastern Mountain Bongo and Grant's Zebra.  The Grant's Zebra are among the least common of the four species of zebra in North American zoos.

 The path back to the eastern portion of the zoo wrapped back through the woods and past habitats for Ring-tailed Lemurs, Great Horned Owl and Barred Owl (below).