The Lehigh Valley zoo is located in eastern Pennsylvania just northwest of Reading. It's a mid-size institution where on a good day you could see up to 65 different species.
From the entrance, you first see the African Penguin habitat, a large round pool with a large enclosure camouflaged to look like a rock mound. You can never see all of the birds in an exhibit like this where the penguins are free to come and go. I counted about 13 birds, but I think the colony's larger than that.
From the entrance, you first see the African Penguin habitat, a large round pool with a large enclosure camouflaged to look like a rock mound. You can never see all of the birds in an exhibit like this where the penguins are free to come and go. I counted about 13 birds, but I think the colony's larger than that.
Beyond this is the North American River Otters' habitat. A point of personal interest to me.
AFRICAN PENGUIN HABITAT
The final habitat to visit in this part of the zoo belongs to the North American River Otters. As eluded to previously, I had a more personal reason to spend time here. Owing to an AZA breeding recommendation, the 8 year old female, Piper, who used to reside at the Maryland Zoo, now calls the Lehigh Valley Zoo home. But first a word or two about the habitat itself.
The North American River Otter habitat sits in a concrete bowl surrounded on about 75% of it's sides by tiers of wide concrete "seats" and a trio of concrete steps to allow visitors to descend from the general path down to the habitat's edge. It is an amphitheater, and bears all of the characteristics of a one-time sea lion performance venue, now retrofitted to accommodate the otters. It's decently sized, but like the Penguin Habitat before this, doesn't hold a candle to Maryland Zoo's.
Upon arriving I quickly spied Piper--she loves to swim underwater on her back with belly up reflecting the muted whiteness of her underside fur. Her new beau is Luwani. He is larger that she, not unusual between males and females; however, more so than was poor Hudson back at the Maryland Zoo. It's Hudson's lack of procreative impulses that landed Piper here.
In watching the two of them interact, they seemed chummy enough. Piper bears the added description of "hyper," because the girl never slows down. As I watched she and Luwani play on a floating tambourine thingy, there were moments when he would assert his dominance over her by biting the nape of her neck and holding down until she submitted. She wasn't hurt physically, and it probably bodes well for the likelihood that Luwani and she will (or have) breed (bred). As stated, Hudson never layed a paw on her. And it made me a little sad for. After being queen of the expansive habitat at the Maryland Zoo, she's now a mail order bride. And the kingdom is diminished.
One of the characteristics of the African Black-footed Penguin is their unique vocalization. They sound like mules braying. For this reason in South Africa they are colloquially known as Jackass Penguins. Members of this colony were particularly vocal.
REPTILE AMPHIBIAN DISCOVERY CENTER
Check out this gorgeous Timber Rattlesnake. I don't think I've ever seen a more beautiful speciman.
Gila Monster
Green Monitor Lizard
NORTH AMERICAN RIVER OTTER HABITAT
The North American River Otter habitat sits in a concrete bowl surrounded on about 75% of it's sides by tiers of wide concrete "seats" and a trio of concrete steps to allow visitors to descend from the general path down to the habitat's edge. It is an amphitheater, and bears all of the characteristics of a one-time sea lion performance venue, now retrofitted to accommodate the otters. It's decently sized, but like the Penguin Habitat before this, doesn't hold a candle to Maryland Zoo's.
Upon arriving I quickly spied Piper--she loves to swim underwater on her back with belly up reflecting the muted whiteness of her underside fur. Her new beau is Luwani. He is larger that she, not unusual between males and females; however, more so than was poor Hudson back at the Maryland Zoo. It's Hudson's lack of procreative impulses that landed Piper here.
In watching the two of them interact, they seemed chummy enough. Piper bears the added description of "hyper," because the girl never slows down. As I watched she and Luwani play on a floating tambourine thingy, there were moments when he would assert his dominance over her by biting the nape of her neck and holding down until she submitted. She wasn't hurt physically, and it probably bodes well for the likelihood that Luwani and she will (or have) breed (bred). As stated, Hudson never layed a paw on her. And it made me a little sad for. After being queen of the expansive habitat at the Maryland Zoo, she's now a mail order bride. And the kingdom is diminished.
Miss Piper
Mr. Luwani
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