This little vacation is built around a Zoo-Troika: Memphis, Little Rock, and St. Louis. Three zoos in good standing with the AZA. Three zoos with good reputations and evidence of strong community support. Three zoos I had never been to before--the most important criteria! We started with Memphis, which opens with a grand and glorious Egyptian themed entrance. Very impressive. Reminds me of the Virginia Zoo in Norfolk, an entrance you can't miss. On the day of our visit, it was overcast with temps in the upper 40's that climbed into the mid 50's by the time we departed. We arrived at noon.
Our first destination was the Primate Canyon. The Memphis Zoo is home to an impressive array of Primates. These include both Western Lowland Gorillas and Bornean Orangutans, Bonobos! (I've never seen one, they are more endangered than Chimpanzees and extremely precious human cousins evolutionarily speaking), Mandrills, and an array of lesser apes (monkeys): Colobus, Guernon, Siamang, Gibbons, Patas Monkeys and two species of Ruffed Lemurs: White & Black and Red.
Now, this is just how big a zoo nerd I am. Due to the temps, most of the animals weren't out, but I still enjoyed exploring the habitats! The design of this entire area and series of habitats was excellent, immersive, great sight-lines and par for the course for the most part as to what awaited us on our little journey.
The first habitat had one of the few species out and about...
A trio of spotted-nose Guenon
The first view of the Western Lowland Gorilla habitat
The signage throughout the zoo was unique and looked like a collection of field notes, open notebooks and photos of the species being studied. Very creative and engaging.
The second section for the Orangutans
Another species out and ready for their close-ups were a trio of Mandrill. A male and two females, possibly one an offspring of the others. He is such a strikingly handsome fellow.
Here he is with the older Female--what a distinctive couple!
The Bonobo entrance to a day room setting was on the other side of the Primate Canyon, and through we visited it later in the tour, I'm including the images here.
The well-appointed habitat with lots of opportunities to climb and explore.
As I mentioned, Bonobos are extremely rare, and I am afraid that my first opportunity to see one in the flesh began and ended with the crown of the animals head!
Ensconced in a fire-hose hammock with a plastic bottle, life is good.
Our first destination was the Primate Canyon. The Memphis Zoo is home to an impressive array of Primates. These include both Western Lowland Gorillas and Bornean Orangutans, Bonobos! (I've never seen one, they are more endangered than Chimpanzees and extremely precious human cousins evolutionarily speaking), Mandrills, and an array of lesser apes (monkeys): Colobus, Guernon, Siamang, Gibbons, Patas Monkeys and two species of Ruffed Lemurs: White & Black and Red. 
No comments:
Post a Comment