St. Louis Zoo: River's Edge

 The final adventure at the St. Louis Zoo was a walk through a series of integrated habitats called the River's Edge.  Initially, we encountered a lot of empty habitats.  Black Rhinoceros, African Wild Dogs, Red River Hogs--ALL "no en casa," though it was a lovely walk.  Then we happened upon the Hippopotamus.

Wow!  What joy!  Great views, active animals.  Playing under water and out.  And then things looked up.  Around a bend in the pathway: Cheetahs, then Spotted Hyenas, and even Dwarf Mongoose.  Around another bend, Sun Bears, and then a TV camera and a bit of a crowd admiring a magnificent male Asian Elephant.  It was Rajah's 36th birthday.  It was also his last at the St. Louis Zoo after living there for most of his life.  By now, a keeper I spoke with explained, that most of the females in the herd were now his off-spring.  Thus limiting his potential to continue producing genetically valuable progeny.  The AZA SSP recommendation was sending him to the Columbus Zoo.  A replacement male would be coming to the St. Louis Zoo at some yet to be determined point in the future.  

Leaving the River's Edge takes you through a little cave.  Inside is a single room-sized aquarium with huge specimens of fish native to Missouri Rivers.  On the other side is a plaza with a Restaurant that is open in warmer seasons.

Water features were located throughout.

Black Rhinoceros Habitat sans Rhino.

Red River Hog Habitat sans hogs.

An aviary with some birds we'd already seen at the main Aviary.

Hippopotamus habitat underwater viewing.

Spotted Hyena Habitat

Cheetah Habitat

Dwarf Mongoose Habitat

First sighting, a female.

Around the bend, Rajah!  What amazing tusks!

Parting shot