San Diego Zoo

2010.12.25

On Christmas Day we went to the San Diego Zoo.  The zoo houses over 4,000 animals from 800 species in a 100 acre park that includes some pretty steep terrain.  There are double-decker open buses which make the rounds through five stops scattered throughout the park, and we used those to help us get around without quite so much walking.  After the clear blue skies on the previous day, we were disappointed by the overcast weather, but we still enjoyed seeing the animals.  There were some sun breaks in the afternoon.  There were more people than I expected, but it only felt crowded in certain areas.

Below, a Scarlet Macaw and a Southern Laughing Kookaburra.

Scarlet Macaw at San Diego Zoo
Southern Laughing Kookaburra at San Diego Zoo

Most of the Koalas were asleep, but one of them woke up briefly.  My photo was blurry as I hurried to get a shot off before he tucked his head back in.

Koala at San Diego Zoo
Koala at San Diego Zoo

An endangered Lowland Anoa, and a Southwest African Suricate, better known as a Meerkat.

Lowland Anoa at San Diego Zoo
Southwest African Suricate (Meerkat) at San Diego Zoo

The cheetah and rhinos were just lounging around.

Cheetah at San Diego Zoo
Two Rhinoceros at San Diego Zoo

A Red River Hog, Miniature Mediterranean Donkey, and Grant’s Zebra.

Red River Hog at San Diego Zoo
Miniature Mediterranean Donkey and Grant's Zebra at San Diego Zoo

Not sure what these are… hedgehogs or something… oh wait, Masai Giraffe.

Masai Giraffe at San Diego Zoo
Masai Giraffe at San Diego Zoo

This giraffe was just over a year old.  On the right, a Nubian Soemmerring’s Gazelle is only as tall as the kneecaps of a giraffe.

Yearling Masai Giraffe at San Diego Zoo
Nubian Soemmerring's Gazelle at San Diego Zoo

The big raptors were difficult to photograph, so some imagination is required.  On the left, an Andean Condor.  On the right, an Ornate Hawk-eagle.

Andean Condor at San Diego Zoo
Ornate Hawk-eagle at San Diego Zoo

On the left, two Steller’s Sea Eagles.  On the right, vultures I photographed later on in a different part of the park.  I’m not sure what species they are; the beak doesn’t look right for an American Black Vulture.

Stellar's Sea Eagles at San Diego Zoo
Vultures at San Diego Zoo

“Just… can’t… reach…” A female Southern Gerenuk, also called a Waller’s Gazelle.  Gerenuk comes from a Somali description of “giraffe-necked”.  On the right, endangered Speke’s Gazelles.

Southern Gerenuk at San Diego Zoo
Speke's Gazelles at San Diego Zoo

On the left, a couple endangered Bonteboks.  On the right, a critically endangered Addra Gazelle.

Bontebok at San Diego Zoo
Addra Gazelle at San Diego Zoo

On the left, a Sichuan Takin.  On the right, an endangered Chacoan Peccary.

Sichuan Takin at San Diego Zoo
Chacoan Peccary at San Diego Zoo

On the left, an Arctic Fox.  On the right, headless Reindeer.

Arctic Fox at San Diego Zoo
Reindeer at San Diego Zoo

Quack quack quack…

Duck at San Diego Zoo
Ducks at San Diego Zoo

A Bactrian Camel.  Since antiquity, they have been used to pull heavy wagons in Siberia and Central Asia.

Bactrian Camel at San Diego Zoo
Traditional wagon pulled by bactrian camels at San Diego Zoo