Maryland Zoo Reopened! Part 3, African Journey

The African Journey is the largest area of the zoo.  As the name implies, most of the animals are native to the continent of Africa.  It's not an exclusionary thing, though.  You will also encounter Caribbean Flamingos, Panamanian Golden Frogs and an Amur Leopard.

AFRICAN JOURNEY

What's closed: A pathway short cut to the Chimpanzee Forest, the Giraffe/Okapi Round House, and the new African Elephant overlook.

Caribbean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber)

Southern White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum)

AFRICAN AVIARY

Hamerkop (Scopus umbretta)

Von der Decken's Hornbill (Tockus deckeni)

Blue-bellied Roller (Coracias cyanogaster)

The Amur Leopard habitat is being completely renovated.  I hope it is in preparation to introducing a male Amur Leopard with our Sofiya and then little ones--this is one of the most critically endangered animals on the planet.

Amur Leopard habitat under renovation.

Saddle-billed Stork (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis)

Addra Gazelle (Nanger dama)

 Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)

ZURI

African Lion (Panthera leo)

HASSAN

FELIX

African Elephant (Loxodonta africana)

ANNA

Reticulated Giraffe (Giraffa Camelopardalis reticulata)

Black and White Colobus Monkey (Colobus guereza)

 Panamanian Golden Frog (Atelopus zeteki)

The Panamanian Golden Frog is extinct in the wild.  Herpetologists at the Maryland Zoo were the first to successfully breed this species in captivity.  Today a network of zoos are working hard to keep this beautiful little creature from vanishing from the face of the earth forever.  All are indebted to the work begun at the Maryland Zoo--I am very proud of this.

Located in the Chimpanzee Forest building, across from this large Herpetarium is the inner Chimp Habitat.  The majority of the troup were present, and both of our little newborn girls were clinging to the mothers as the group members were swinging through the rafters!  It was so fun seeing them integrated into the group.  But getting a pic was next to impossible!

Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) 

0266.Art Rocks: William Pope.L: 1955

0265.Art Rocks: Leonardo Asiro: 1954

0264.Art Rocks: Peter Paul Rubens: 1577

Dinner: Chicken Breast Cutlet Roasted...

...on a bed of Green Beans with Red Pepper, Scallion, Kalamata Olives, Grape Tomatoes, minced Garlic, Capers and Lemon wedges.

Impatiens

I spared a pair of impatiens that volunteered in different pots last summer by bringing them inside for the winter.  They made the best of it, yet grew sinewy and oddly like Bonsai in the dry and light limited world of home.  Back outside now for some two months, they have taken to being in a space more suited to their needs and are erupting with foliage and now blossoms.

I find in their resurrection great joy.

0263.Art Rocks: Ahmet Ziya Akbulut: 1869

0262.Art Rocks: Yitzak Danziger: 1916

Maryland Zoo Reopened! Part 4: The Penguin Coast and Polar Bear Watch

THE POLAR BEAR WATCH AND PENGUIN COAST

The last loop runs through the habitats of the Polar Bear Watch. 

What closed: The Tundra Buggy which had just been renovated and provides the best views of the Polar Bears and Grizzly Bears.  The rest of the relatively compact area is accessible. 

THE POLAR BEAR WATCH

Grizzly Bear (Ursus horribilis)

New "dens" for the bear's enrichment

Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus)

Arctic Fox (Vulpes lagopus)

PENGUIN COAST

 Pink-backed Pelican (Pelecanus rufescens)

Maryland Zoo Reopened! Part 2: Maryland Wilderness to Children's Farm

When you reach the end of the Buffalo Yard Road, the first option for a visit is the Maryland Wilderness.  The Maryland Wilderness leads you to the Children's Farm.  In my year of volunteering, I was often assigned to both the wilderness and the farm.  And in my most recent up-graded training, I was certified to interpret at both.  It is my intention to do this once the option becomes viable again.

THE MARYLAND WILDERNESS & CHILDREN'S FARM

What's closed: This is the most interactive and kid friendly part of the zoo.  The turtle statue, The bird Nests (both open and woven--all three a major photo ops), The Lily Pad jumping trail (in the Marsh Aviary), The North American Otter swim over corridor and Hellbender Exhibit, The Maryland Cave (Herpetarium & Bat Habitat), the Giant Tree Slide and Herpetarium, The Turtle Shell Deck (The models were removed, the deck was still open), The Maryland Meadow (Herpetarium), The Alpaca Barn, The Silo Slide, and The Goat Coral.

MARYLAND WILDERNESS

One of the hallmarks of the Maryland wilderness is a walk in the woods.  Besides the contrived exhibits, it is possible to see other native species.  Today, I watched Cardinals, Nuthatches and Wood Thrush, for example.  Speaking of birds, the Marsh Aviary was also open to visitors.

Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)

Canvasback Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) 

Black-Crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)

The Maryland Wilderness features three mammalian species.  The Seba Bats were off limits in the Maryland Cave (currently closed to the public), the North American River Otters were not out, so it was up the Bobcats, and they did not disappoint.

Bobcat (Lynx rufus)

Along the path more evidence of renovations.  The bench and memorial to Melanie J. Wentz was cleaned up, and the bench replaced.  The entrance to the newly renovated Giant Tree Herpetarium was closed and barricaded.  Further along the path, the Maryland Meadow, though closed to its underground exhibits, was open.  A careful eye could still spy an Eastern Box Turtle in the outside habitat of the exhibit.

Melanie was a member of the zoo staff who was killed in a tragic crime.

Beneath the giant tree slides is a subterranean herpetarium.  Closed for now.

Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina)

THE CHILDREN FARM

At around 2:15 on the first day the zoo was open again, the farm was decidedly quiet.  The goats were already inside, as were the Alpaca.  The Kune Kune pigs were out, but sleeping, a Cotswold sheep stuck her head out to check me out, Lloyd and Harry were out (our Mediterranean Donkeys), and our Trumpeter Swans were all out, which was a joy to see our newly hatched trio.

Wilber (or Orville?) Kune Kune Pig (Sus scrofa domesticus)

Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator)