Memphis Zoo: African Veldt

 When you leave the Hippo Camp, the path leaders down along a large arch that curves around to your left and leads you to the African Elephants.  Inside the arc is a huge habitat for mixed species.  On the outside are two very spacious habitats.  The first one is home to the zoo's herd of Reticulated Giraffe.  The other is a second mixed-species area.  The signage indicated some species that weren't present at the time of our visit; however, many zoos offer animals choice, as well as, move them around when possible to provide novelty and enrichment.  

Besides the Giraffe, there were Red River Hogs, Eastern Mountain Bongos, Southern White Rhinoceros, Grant's Zebra and Scimitar-horned Oryx.  The interior habitat featured two of the zoo's 4 Bongos and three very lively Red River Hogs.  All seemed to be adolescent, smaller in stature than any others I've ever seen and playfully running around chasing one another.  At one point one of them made a beeline for the Bongos and they skedaddled, too.  I've never seen such happy Red River Hogs, it was truly endearing.

The zoo's Reticulated Giraffe herd is eight members strong, an amazing number for any urban zoo.  Five members were out and about during our time with them.  Next door was Daisey, the zoo's one and only Grant's Zebra, three of the five Scimitar-horned Oryx, and both of the zoo's Southern White Rhinoceros, Kito and Maggie.  Kito is Swahili for "precious jewel".  He is 14, and Maggie is considerably older.

I believe this one is Koka who was born at the Oglebay Good Zoo in Wheeling, West Virginia.

Females have the lighter fur, but both genders grow horns which makes them unique among the members of the genus "Tragelaphus"

This is the Bull of the herd, I think his name is Fritz.

Daisey the Grant's Zebra.

Two of the five Scimitar-horned Oryx.

14-year-old, Kito, a Southern White Rhinoceros

His older companion, Maggie