Brandywine Zoo, part 3

 We will finish this visit to the Brandywine Zoo with more of the amazing fauna it has to offer.  Beyond the Goat corral and the mid-level plaza is a long habitat that has been the home to a variety of birds and mid-sized mammals.  For the past few years the lord of the land has been this beautiful Giant Ant Eater named Lants (short for Lancaster).  He's a very charismatic fellow, and shares his space with a trio of bird species, including two types of duck, and 3 Scarlet Ibis.

Start by showing off his magnificent tail.

Handsome, gentle, Lants!

Adjacent to this Habitat is a small community garden designed to provide fresh treats for some of the animals.  The space around a couple of raised beds is home to at least two Eastern Box Turtles.

Finally, the far end of the zoo is home to it's crowning jewel.  A multi-species habitat that is home to three species of Lemur, Radiated Tortoise and Crowned Guinea Fowl.  Not only is there a spacious habitat with multiple arboreal elements and a generous water feature, but above the holding facilities is a large covered pavilion with a gloriously generous observation window from which to take in all of the wonders these animals have to offer.

There are three species of Lemur.  The Black and White Ruffed Lemurs which are Critically Endangered in their native habitat.  The Ring-tailed Lemurs which are Endangered.  And the Crowned Lemurs which are also Endangered.  You can sense a theme here, right?  Given the status of these animals, the zoo is a participant in the SSP (Species Survival Programs) for all three.  To date only the little Crowned Lemurs, Sophie and Kipp, have gotten on board, and in a big way--they have managed to produce 4 successful offspring since arriving with the opening of the habitat in the autumn of 2020.  

During this visit, they were not on display because their latest arrival, Kian, who was born back in mid-May has reached the point in their development where they no longer spends all of their time clinging to Sophie or Kipp, yet they're still small enough that they could conceivably squeeze their way out of the habitat.  They're growing fast and should reach a size where this is no longer a possibility in a few weeks.  Also, the zoo should be able to determine Kian's gender soon, as well.

The New Madagascar Pavilion with the great viewing window.

The wider view of the habitat from the window.

The different species co-habitat very well together.

Ring-tailed Lemurs are such curious animals bursting with personality.

Crowned Guinea Fowl

I hope that above all you've learned just how much I love this little zoo.  It's absolutely one of the best bang for your buck zoological parks in North America.  The Brandywine Zoo gives you the opportunity to see a wide range of fascinating animals from far away places.  To learn about their lives, their conservation status, and have a small role in participating in environmentally critical Species Survival Programs.  

If you don't have a home zoo that you belong to, but you do like to travel and visit zoos when you can, let me make a bold suggestion.  Why not join the Brandywine Zoo?  Anyone can.  Membership has its perks. Among AZA member zoos, many have reciprocal programs for members that will give you a decent discount, sometimes as much as 50% of the price of admission at other AZA Zoos (AND Aquariums).  The price to join the Brandywine Zoo is a lot more accessible than at most other larger institutions, but the discounts are the same.