We're Going To The Zoo, Zoo, Zoo....

I spent August 17 at the Calgary Zoo with my zoo-fanatic cousin and my Canon T1i. 

 

We hit the dinosaur wing first, which is new since my last visit, and I admit that I was a little concerned. Dinosaurs? In a zoo? Don't I go to see living animals? But there was no need for trepidation. These life-size animatronics were about as close to the real deal in their real environment that you're going to see.

Next up, penguins!

This guy...

...and this guy!

 

Super-cool things from the bear enclosure:

ridiculously close-up paw shot,

 

a 'white' black bear,

 

and some... BEAR BUM!
Technically bare bear bum... bare your bare bear bum!

You get the point.

Meerkat,

 

 

another representative from the set of the Lion King,

 

 

sad-looking monkey,

 

 

and strangely not-sad-looking leopard!

Click the photo to look close: is it just me, or is this guy laughing at me???

 

 

Maybe if you tilt your head a bit, you can see it?

 

The giraffe:
so docile-looking, like there are no cares in the world way up there.

The flamingoes are pretty.

 

I think this is my favourite shot of the day.

 

And so many more exotic birds!

 

 

 We took our time and spent the entire afternoon walking the zoo. Afterward, because my cousin has some great connections, we got a tour of the veterinary facility used to care for the animals. By the time the day was done, we were exhausted and our feet were sore, but still at least one creature seems to have been more than a little sad to see us go. :)