Brandywine Zoo, Part Three

The third part of my visit beings us to the end and in many ways, the heart of the little zoo.  After this, there's only one way out--back the way you came.  Anchored around a circular plaza with tables for picnics, the little concession formerly sold legitimate meal food like pizza slices and hot dogs.  In past visits, I always encountered families taking advantage of this service and space to have a lunch with their children.  The star attraction was the North American Otter habitat complete with an underwater viewing window on the north side of the plaza.  The south-side of the plaza featured two habitats: 1) a petting pen with 4 amiable pygmy goats, and a larger habitat home to llamas and southern rhea.  A sort of horseshoe of habitats connected the outer perimeter around the plaza from the llama yard up and over the otter habitat and back down the other side to concessions building.  There were mostly inhabited by various species of birds, but also a Capybara, a Sloth, and a Prehensile-tailed porcupine were present.

With the decision to move the surviving North American River Otter to another zoo, and the need to that habitat to have some major repairs, coupled with the new drive to realize a Master Plan of transformations, the otter habit was short term reconfigured to be home to an expanded cast of goats and new to the mix, chickens.  The residents of the outer perimeter habitats also changed to accommodate existing members of the zoo's animal populations and some changes therein.  Toss in some additional up-grading, and you have what I experienced on this trip--and it was a very pleasing experience.

 Among the various avian species, the burrowing owl is a longtime member.

The Brandywine zoo is also home to two American Bald Eagles.  They share their large habitat with Ravens.  (It's like a Philadelphia/Baltimore detente thing!)

Another longtime resident of the zoo who is still featured in the current iteration is a Capybara.  She is one of the most zen creatures--and zen is something that Capybaras do well on the DNA level!

Are these Betty Davis eyes?  They are certainly beautiful!

She shares who current habitat with a trio of recently arrived Scarlet Ibis.  Birds and mammal appear to be copacetic with one another.

Brandywine Zoo Barnyard

The transformation of the old Otter habitat to this new Barnyard one is good move for the zoo as it embraces some major changes and hopefully an expanded, re-imagined future.  The Master Plan doesn't hold any space for farm animals.  If you honestly ask me, I think this is a mistake.  Providing children with hands on encounters and up-close experiences with domesticated animals creates a visceral connection to not just the zoo, but to animal life of all kinds.  As every Master Plan is a work in progress, I sincerely hope that this one evolves to include a domestic/farm animal component.

Two species of goats are identified: African Pygmy and Angora; however, I observed goats that didn't seem to fit into either option--more like West African Dwarf goats, which seem to be a little larger than their "pygmy" cousins.  Also, I didn't notice any of the former quartet of pygmy goats--all of whom were truly diminutive and black.  The new Angora goats were obvious.

 In addition to goats, the barnyard also had a healthy flock of chickens representing three species: the Delaware Blue Hen (I have a family connection to this breed and how it became the Delaware State Bird), the Plymouth Rock chicken and the Ameraucana chicken.  Great signage for all!