Philadelphia Zoo: View 2 of 9

On this visit to the Philadelphia Zoo I chose to visit some of the places that I generally avoid.  The zoo made the decision about a decade ago to stop keeping Elephants and in doing so also let other species go like their Indian Rhinoceros.  The area and buildings then became prime real estate for something new and the zoo opted for a Children's zoo within a zoo concept.  Today they call it KidZooU.  The spaces combine a range of educational information and encounters with animals along with a petting zoo concept full of goats.  The entire area was well designed and I can see how it's a wonderful resource for school groups, too; especially primary aged kids.

 The Goat yard.  I love Goats!

 Within the former Pachyderm building you will find a flock of Parikeets and a coral reef aquarium.

 A room given to Insects, too.

 A great shot of the originally Elephant House.  To give this some perspective, I am including an image of the design concept and then some nostalgic images of some of the buildings former inhabitants.

 African Elephants (the last three were transferred to the Pittsburgh Zoo in 2011) and there were also Asian Elephants in the past.

 Indian Rhinoceros

Okapi