I cannot believe that it's been 20 years since we took our daughters to the San Diego Wild Animal Park! For today's purposes, I'm referring to it as a zoo. However, it is a zoo with a huge difference. Here, one can observe, touch and photograph wild free roaming animals in their natural habitats within its 1800 acres. I checked online and this place has been improved vastly in the past 20 years. It now has Nairobi Village, a Condor Ridge, a Hidden Jungle, Kupanda Falls Botanical Center, and the Kilimanjaro Safari Walk. And new is the Lion Camp, Elephant Overlook, and Heart of Africa. When we were there - 20 years ago - we went on the train that goes around the perimeter of the zoo and we enjoyed it immensely. I'd love to go back one day and see all that's new and use a better camera this time. Here are a few photos from our visit. I apologize for the quality, but remember they're scanned 20-year-old photos. And they will enlarge if you click on them. Enjoy!The terrain of the zoo varies greatly. On the left is a landscape shot with some sort of animals roaming on the hillside and on the right, is an island oasis in the middle of the drier area. It's hard to tell, but the black at the bottom is a bright blue pool of water.
And here we have some shots of some of the animals we saw. On the left is an elephant and on the right is a rhinoceros.
The camels looked magnificent and regal as they posed on this hillside.
And the flamingos were everywhere!
Then we spotted these two varieties of primates. We decided we liked the cute ones without hair, except on their heads, so took them home as a souvenir. I still have them to this day, but they have increased in size! lol
Hope you enjoyed the photos and that you all have a great week. I'm looking forward to next week when we start all over again. Well, actually, I started at the letter B last time....Denise has challenged herself (see her blog) and I think I will challenge myself to come up with some sort of story to go along with my photos. I enjoy both writing and photography, so it will be a real challenge to make them work together.
To see other participants in ABC Wednesday, click on our hostess's site (Mrs. Nesbitt's place) and sign in to Mr. Linky. If you haven't participated yet, join in next week with the letter A and see how much you'll enjoy it! My thanks to Mrs. Nesbitt for hosting this! Thanks Denise!!! I've loved every moment of doing ABC Wednesday.
44 comments:
Thanks for taking me to the zoo today.Didn't San Diego Zoo set a new benchmark for zoos around the world? Our Western Plains Zoo was constructed along the San Diego guidelines I think.
I hate Zoo's in general but this one seems to have the balance right - freedom for all - to a degree anyway!
Thought we might see more zoo's this week.
Thanks for the visit.
Gary
Bodge's Bulletin
Thank you for taking me to the zoo today. I never been to really big zoo. We only got one zoo here in Norway. Located near Kristiansand. But I don't you "over there" think it is so big. I went there on a vacation in 1992 when my oldest son was 4 years old. I haven't been there with my younges. But he is only 10 so I guess it is still so time to do that.
I really like this post!
Great choice for Z, can't wait to see what you challenge yourself with next week. Have a good week :)
i always love reading your photo blog post and will look forward to the next ones with a story too :-)
Fabulous zoo shots. I was trying to remember the last time I was at a zoo...
probably 20 years ago :0)
Nice choice and great photos!
This is a nice post, Leslie. I have photos of the Calgary Zoo and had considered photos on from there but then I remembered the Zebra butterfly. I guess I'll do the zoo the next time around.
Thanks for your visit to mine.
ann
Yay... another successful post! That was totally awesome and fun to read!
I feel sad for animals in zoos and wish they could go out in the wild but I guess that's just me and as long as they are well taken care of, I think it's ok. Your photos turned out pretty good despite being as old as they are... still very easy to look at when you click on them to make them bigger!
I love the ending of your story! That made me smile!
The primates with hair only on top... hehehehe... that was too cute!! Awesome!
I haven't been to a Zoo in a long time. Thanks for the tour.
My favorite zoo! Your Z zoo really outshines my lone Rhino! We all owe San Diego Zoo thanks for setting the standard for zoos that respect both animals and spectators. I don't blame you for taking whom those two little relatively hairless primates!
This sounds like a wonderful zoo. Better than any than I've been to.
I wonder how many zoo's we will have for "Z" Wednesday. Yours was great for being different.
I wish I'd have a Zebra shot, too. Just got a horse with a Z-name. But all your animals do have Z's in them, how cool is that! And they are in the Zoo, too! More Z's then I ever excpected!
Cheers, Klaus
It has been years since we visited the SD Wild Animal Park, too. We are headed in that direction next week, but I don't imagine we will have time. You never know, thoug, now that you have put it in my mind.
That was a lovely virtual tour. Wonderful choice for the z.
That is a great choice for Z because of all the creatures in the zoo. Thanks for sharing.
Kathy b
NOw aren't you glad ABS Wednesday encouraged you to look back at some fun photos? Nice memories.
OMGOSH! can I tell you the amount of times while I have been unwell then rushing around and then unwell again that I have thought of you Leslie and those darling grand children of yours. I am so sorry I have been months not able to blog much but thinking of you each time I cuddled a grandchild of supported family in time of need.
Our little Jesse his sisters Florence and Adelaide live just a few streets away from Melbourne Zoo and one night he said lets go outside nanni and see if we can hear the lions snoring! (anything to make an excuse to not go to bed yet!- smiles)
Thinking of you often dear friend Lee-ann
i already feel in the zoo at the moment :D next month we will go to the zoo to celebrate my son's birthday :D
Mine in here At My Imaginary. Thanks
great choice for z theme
Visit me in here Thanks
you're lucky to have access to a zoo; the closest we get to seeing wild animals is on tv...
Your ABC Wednesday post is quite unique--thanks for sharing.
The San Diego Zoo is fabulous and not like most zoos. The wildlife park looks fascinating.
'We're going to the Zoo, Zoo, Zoo...'
Oh, dear - I forget the rest.
I am glad that the "old time" zoos with there small enclosures are being replaced my the more open ones.
Thanks for a lovely nostalgic trip to the zoo.
Thanks for this visit !
miss Yves
Wonderful choice for Z--on ABC Wednesday.
Bear((( )))
I posted Zoo as well ..
Leslie, Josie posted a comment at my blog that she had to delete her blog .. could you email me and/or ask her to email me ...
fashionistanyc at gmail.com
I wondered who might do Zoo today! :)
What an interesting "Z" post. I did a Zebra at the Zoo.
Great choice for "Z"!
hehehe
As you noticed, "Louis" went Ape over Mme. la Vache when he met her...
:-)
Great Z. Zoo was my other choice but we haven't got one here on the island. Thanks for your kind comments on mine.
If there have to be zoos, the animals should have as much room as possibles and the humans should be the caged animals while visiting. I hate the Whale exibit in Stanley Park, the whales should be in the sea and you look at them from a boat.
That was a great post, Leslie! What a nice zoo this is... Zoos usually makes me sad, but this one is wonderful.
Kisses from Nydia.
Good to go to the Zoo tonight!!
You've a wealth of information here Leslie. It sounds like a wonderful place.
Oh leslie, I am so pleased you are setting yourself a challenge, I am all ready on the case for next week. I am going to begin with a "setting" a proper introduction.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh! Excited now!
Great choice even if they are older photos. I was there when I was 19, eons ago. It would be nice to go back someday. Thanks for stopping by my place.
We went there too about 25 years ago or even more. I was in San Diego in April and went to the Zoo where there have also been many changes but we did not get to the Wild Animal Park
Thanks for the lovely trip to the zoo. Great post.
Great choice for Z, of course! It's been about 25 years since I was last at the Wild Animal Park! I used to live in San Diego and had a zoo pass which got me and my young son into both the zoo and the park...we had great times there!
Now that's a good zoo!
I have a soft spot for gorillas too.
I love to see flamingo pictures!
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