First Zoo Trip of 2010

Teagan felt well enough this morning and her breakfast was staying put that we decided to go to the zoo. We had talked about this trip for a few days but thought after her upset tummy yesterday we would have to postpone our visit.

Warm winter days are the best days to visit the zoo as there are not very many people. The animals are much more active on these days and it is so much easier to get a good look and to even sit and watch for an extended period of time.


Teagan insisted we bring the wagon so she could pack her friends along. I knew what would happen though. I pulled the wagon after the first 20 minutes and she was in it most of the time. She is into taking pictures and is actually quite a good little photographer. She took this picture.


This one of the tortoises. They often take them out for walks and you can see them roaming around the zoo.


These little meerkats were trying to sneak food away from the African porcupines. Needless to say they didn't want to share.


Teagan and her beloved hippo. She adores them and will watch them for a long time. I wanted to stay by the baby giraffe but Teagan kept pulling me toward the hippos.



This sweet baby girl was born on December 5th. We got to watch her nursing, a rare and precious site.




The new Enmax Conservatory opened since our last visit to the zoo. Teagan liked all the listening devices and stopped at everyone. They had a few interactive things for her to play with. I really liked the seasonal garden full of poinsettias.


Teagan found this giant pinecone in among the poinsettias. She just had to have her picture taken with it!!


This giant teddy-bear sculpture was new and I wanted to have our picture taken with it for my mom the teddy-bear maker.


Teagan really wants to have her picture taken. I think she has the heart of a scrapbooker. This was a cute shot of her being hugged by an elephant (not real).

I enjoyed watching the elephants. The large male elephant Spike was getting some forced exercise. There was a zoo volunteer at each end of the enclosure and they would throw one slice of fruit each time he walked from one end to the other. The female elephant must have been his personal trainer as she kept him focused on walking back and forth. She never took any of the food unless the male decided he wasn't going to make the effort to reach a piece that was throw short or landed in the water. At one point the female blocked the male elephant's attempt to go for a swim and got him back to his walking. It was very interesting to watch and most people missed what was happening as they didn't have to time to sit and watch.