Lehigh Valley Zoo - Schnecksville, PA: part 3 of 5 (from June 26)

When walk around the pond, you are entering into the series of enclosures with mostly hoofstock from Africa.  The big exception is the first area you encounter, home to the zoo's Red Kangaroo group.

You will also encounter the zoo's herd of Scimitar-horned Oryx here.  Another animals that zoo works to breed as part of the SSP program of the AZA.  To date there have been 6 born at the zoo, the most recent came along in Late February of this year.  Considered extinct in the wild due to trophy hunting and habitat loss, the Scimitar-horned Oryx is one of the marquee species for captive breeding programs.  Others around the country include the San Diego Wildlife Park in California and The Wilds in Cumberland, Ohio.

 Red Kangaroo habitat entrance.  At set times you can join a keeper and walk into the habitat with the animals.

 The pair of Grant's Zebras share a large enclosure with a pair of Common Ostriches.

 Scimitar-horned Oryx

 Dromedary Camels

 The spacious Giraffe enclosure has a feeding tower located in the middle and for an extra charge at specified times you can feed one of the two Masai Giraffe.

The zoo is home to two Masai Giraffe.  An older male and an adolescent male.  The two are unrelated, but get along well.  In fact, it was sweet to see the younger animal seek out the older male when he appeared uncertain about the commotion made by some of the younger guests.  Once he figured it out, he was back to exploring.