Akron Zoo: Wild Asia

 At this point I realized that I only about an hour left and I was just halfway up the hill with about half of the zoo left to see!  Holy Appalachian Hellbender, Batman!   Okay, do what you can do, and don't short change the things you can do.  Also, the areas that are left to explore have far fewer habitats.

With that moment of anxiety quelled, I headed into the Wild Asia section.  And unlike past zoos, the Amur Tigers were out.  They had two large and geographically challenging habitats in the sense of natural flora, rock formations and climbing opportunities.  I did not see the Red Panda, but the final habitat was mind-blowing from the perspective of its inhabitants--a family of White-cheeked Gibbons.  The concoction consisted of a multi-storied interior designed to look like a Thai lodge from the outside attached to a very specious exterior habitat that abutted the building and towered up the ridge line to give multiple viewing from various heights.  The abundance of space was apparently enough to the Gibbons' liking to encourage them to produce off-spring, and the arrival of a little one earlier this Spring.

SUMATRAN TIGER

Panthera tigris sumatrae

The White-cheeked Gibbon complex from the upper exterior observation deck.

The Architect's concept when it was being designed from a different angle.

WHITE-CHEEKED GIBBON

Nomascus leucogenys

The adult females, Parker.  Tucked in with her is her seven-day-old infant.