Akron Zoo: Legends of the Wild, part 1

 The Akron Zoo is one of the smaller zoos that I have long been curious about.  However, it isn't all that small.  It sits within a public park of 77 acres and takes up around half of those (35 acres) with developed area.  It is situated on a ridge that requires a lot of inclined pathways; therefore I would say it a High Impact zoo.  It is also chock-a-block with habitats that are both extremely well designed from an aesthetic standpoint and well proportioned.  To make this work, the zoo has focused on mid-sized and smaller animals, and those that are adaptable to habitats with vertical and diagonal components.  In particular this works well with larger cats like Lions, Leopards and Tigers.  Grizzly Bears would be the other major large animal species, however, they were not out at the time of my visit.  

Opportunity is High.  While you may not see every large animal, there are so many animals, it's hard to imagine how on any nice day, you wouldn't see a lot of different species.  

On this occasion, I was greeted by a Tyrannosaurus Rex at the entrance!  Like the Chinese Lanterns at Cleveland the Dinosaur models are another way zoos drum up increased attendance.  The parking lot is on level ground and the entrance building looms very impressive.  It contains the ticket booth, administrative offices and nicely appointed Gift Shop.  Once you exit into the zoo, the level ground is history, and the design with use of faux stone, water features, and various architectural details is nothing short of enchanting.  

The first habitat you encounter belongs to African Black-footed Penguins.

AFRICAN BLACK-FOOTED PENGUIN

Spheniscus demersus

This adolescent male was clearly engaged in yoga!

And this adolescent female provided additional evidence of a growing, robust colony

This "African Hut" was unpretentious from the outside, but held habitats for a couple of species of Lemur and a truly beautiful Gold Dust Day Gecko, another animal native to Madagascar.

RING-TAILED LEMUR

Lemur catta

One of a pair in the larger interior habitat.  Both spaces have access to private exterior habitats to provide them with variety and down-time.

GOLD DUST DAY GECKO

Phelsuma laticauda