Virginia Zoo: Okavango Delta, part 5

The path away from (or toward, depending on how you start your journey) the elevated holding complex for most of the large mammals in the Okavango Delta habitats of the Virginia Zoo traces a loop around the large open space shared by the Masai Giraffe, Common Ostriches and Yellow-backed Duikers.  As it turns back toward the entrance, on the outer side there are a pair of habitats.  Today these are homes to two species: the Red River Hog and the Cheetah.

The original use of the Cheetah Habitat was as a home for Baboons.  As species go, Baboons are not common in North American Zoos, and when the last member of the troop died off, the space was left open until an arrangement with the Metro Richmond Zoo brought a pair of male Cheetahs to Norfolk.  The Metro Richmond Zoo is home to one of the most successful Cheetah breeding programs in the continent.  In the past 6 years over 40 cubs have been born there, and apart from the zoo itself, the Metro Richmond Zoo has a large Cheetah habitat facility that recent went from 10 spacious enclosures to 15.  There success has actually created something of a glut of Cheetahs for zoos and given them the opportunity to send animals to other zoos for holding and potential breeding.  The two males at the Virginia Zoo are brothers Chester and Rico.  Often loners in the wild, the only exception tends to be same sex siblings which will travel together for mutual protection and support.

The Virginia Zoo's Red River Hog is male, Oboi.  They are really beautiful members of the swine family, and Oboi is like a best of show ambassador for his species.

Beyond this is the expansive habitat that home to the Watusi Cattle and Hartmann's Mountain Zebra with the view off to the African Lions.