Philadelphia Zoo: Snapshot #4 - Outback Crossing

When you depart from the Impala Fountain Plaza, you have two choices in the direction you will go next.  I almost always go right, but today I decided to go left.  The morning can be a very active time for the animals, and I wanted to check out a couple of species in particular--animals I've missed in my most recent visits.

When going along this path the first thing you encounter is another relatively new habitat: Outback Crossing.  It is the home of 4 Emu and 9 Eastern Grey Kangaroos.  Originally this space was going to become a home to the zoo's Okapi, but then he died of old age before they could put it together.  Looking at the existing stock and their needs, a new plan was hatched that would give a new a more spacious home to the only species the zoo has from Australia outside of a few reptiles and song birds.  I applaud the choice and from what I observe when I visit, the animals are all quite content, too.  Though, if you've ever been around Kangaroos much, they always seem to have a "myeh, whatever mate" attitude.

As I approached this exhibit, the best observation point was taken up by two families.  The dads were off a way chatting.  The kids--all boys--numbering five, were running amok and screaming and complaining.  The mom's were standing smack dab in the middle of the prime real estate talking about their lives.  The one was opining on how it was time for her to make her next big move.  She didn't know what it was going to be, but that's how she's always been.  She feels it.  Then she does it come what may.  There could have been Tyrannosaurus Rex in the habitat, and they wouldn't have been aware of it.  I felt like say, move your sorry ass out of the way and pay a little more attention to your kids!  Seriously, between the two families it cost them over $160.00 to visit this zoo, and if they are both members it was a one time combined drop of $300.00--wouldn't hanging out on one of their decks, or at McDonald's, have been just as good and much cheaper? 

I know this looks like a ringer for the kangaroo version of Australia's Funniest Home Videos, but all this poor buck was trying to do was roll over!