Virginia Zoo: Okavango Delta

 Is the third major focus area of the Virginia Zoo in Norfolk.  It's home to the lion's share of their African Species.  Defined by naturalistic and generous spaces attenuated by three major holding buildings--two of which are hidden with landscaping and faux-rock formations, while the third looks like a large safari observation building.  Besides the larger, open habitats, a series of cave-like and smaller habitats line a faux rock gorge that rises and falls along the pathway behind the African Lion Habitat.  8 to 10 species of smaller mammals and reptiles can be found residing here.

LEGEND

A - Watusi Cattle

   - Hartmann's Mountain Zebra

B - Red River Hogs

C - Cheetah

D - Masai Giraffe

   - Southern Ground Hornbill

   - (previously Common Ostrich)

E - Yellow-backed Duiker

F - Eastern Mountain Bongo

   - Stanley Cranes

G - Southern White Rhinoceros

H - African Lion

I - Slender-Tailed Meerkat

  - Rock Hyrax

  - Radiated Tortoise

  - Fennec Fox

  - Crested Porcupine

  - Pancake Tortoise

Some selected photos from Monday's visit:

Rock Hyrax

African Lion 

Southern White Rhinoceros.  

Both of these Females were transferred to the Virginia zoo back in April of 2017 from the Singapore Zoo (an AZA foreign member).  They are Zina and Bora and both brought lines of DNA into the North American collective that made them more precious than gold.  Their arrival also heralded the transformation of this habitat from a home for African Elephants to one for Southern White Rhinoceros.  The remaining Elephants at the Virginia Zoo were sent to Zoo Miami to join their herd in a newly expanded and renovated habitat.

To give the SSP for Southern White Rhinoceros at the Virginia Zoo even greater prominence, Sibindi, a male born in South Africa with an equally unique genetic pattern was selected to be the bull.  In July of 2021, Zina gave birth to a healthy male calf named Mosi (here she is looking at Mosi who is in a separated habitat adjacent to hers.  At 32 months, Mosi is now weened and entering his adolescent years.

Meanwhile, this past November, lightning struck again and Zina gave birth to a healthy female, since christened, Letti.  On my visit, Letti was in the barn with Sibindi.  Safe to say, she's totes adorb!  But the photo-ops where not good.

Eastern Mountain Bongo - this is actually, Jax.  Jax is young male Bongo who's horns became infected last autumn, and in order to safe his life, the veterinary staff made the ultimate decision to remove his horns.  He has recovered well from the procedure and is expected to live a full and genetically productive (wink, wink) life.  Jax is the younger of two males in the Virginia Zoo herd of Eastern Mountain Bongos, a Critically endangered species of arboreal antelope.  

Red River Hogs

Watusi Cattle!--nothing like the dance craze of the 1960's

Hartmann's Mountain Zebra--the zoo is home to four.