December 8, 2013

After collecting and putting on everything I thought I'd need to keep warm, I FORGOT MY CAMERA! It might have been just as well, though, as it was hard to keep my hands warm, even while just grabbing a few pictures on my phone. (I am looking for mittens big enough to accommodate my thin gloves, but haven't found the right thing yet.)

I started on Russia's Grizzly Coast today.  With me as the only spectator, this sea otter was very interested in me.  He or she even followed me to the next part of the tank when I was moving to leave.

When I got to the wild boar exhibit, there were five or more trainers working with the animals.  They train them, with positive reinforcement, to do a number of behaviors so zoo staff can keep them healthy (examine them, draw blood, treat them) without causing the animals a lot of stress.  It was interesting to watch (and I thought I should do the same with our dog... or maybe our kids).
FUN FACT OF THE DAY:  All of the wild boars currently in this exhibit are brothers and sisters.


I have never visited the Minnesota Zoo in the winter.  I now realize it's a great time to see many of the animals on the Grizzly Coast, Northern Trail, and Minnesota Trail.  Several dholes (Asian wild dogs) ran up to the viewing area as I approached.  They then ran to the corner of the exhibit as they heard the crunching of the snow that marked more people coming. They even leaped in the air, seemingly to get a better look at their next visitors.




On the Minnesota Trail the grey wolves and coyotes were also very active.  I loved the close shot, though, that I could get of the dozing puma today.










I grabbed this week's selfie on the Tropics trail. Here I am with a black and white colobus monkey.  (This selfie required a lot of concentration!)









My video for the day came from Discovery Bay.  I tried to get a video of this during my last visit, but it turned out terrible (maybe my phone works better for this application).  Here is the Cassiopea, or upside-down jelly fish.  Like the small movements seen in the coral tank, these creatures can be relaxing to watch.