Zoey the Cool Cat was impressed
I know I’ve said it many times, but it pays to have an annual pass to attractions like the San Diego Zoo. The pass allows one to go to the Zoo at any time on any day and not have to spend the whole day there trying to get one’s money’s worth. If I actually spent $42 for a one-day pass, I would want to spend the whole day there to get my money’s worth.
Being able to go multiple times during the year allows one to see things that are seasonal, like animals mating in the fall or having babies in the spring. The other thing is that Zoos throughout the world regularly trade and loan animals to each other. For example, the koala exhibit here has been torn down (it was fifty years old) and is being replaced with a bigger, better exhibit. That means, though, that instead of the San Diego Zoo having the world’s largest population of koalas outside of Australia, we’re down to just two koalas. The others have been loaned out to other Zoos. So if your Zoo has an unexpected display of koalas, it’s a good bet that they are from the San Diego Zoo and are visiting your Zoo for a while.
Recently, defined as sometime between my last visit to the Reptile House and Monday’s visit to the Reptile House, the Zoo acquired a huge, monster, gigantic, really really big alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii):
The alligator snapping turtle is the only species in its genera, meaning it’s all alone in this world. I feel so sorry for it, but I still think it would snap my finger off if it got a chance. I should also add that Zoey the Cool Cat was impressed with the alligator snapping turtle’s claws. However, she wondered why I didn’t clip its claws like I do hers……….lol
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Posted on October 24, 2012, in Fauna, Mother & Father Nature, Photos, Zoo & Safari Park and tagged alligator snapping turtle pictures, san diego zoo pictures. Bookmark the permalink. 19 Comments.
That is one ugly looking reptile… with a jaw on him that Jay Leno might be envious of…
lol
wow….very impressive resident
It’s so “other era-looking”. Like it hasn’t changed since dinosaur days. I’d stay away from that mouth, too! Great pictures as ever, Russ.
Oh yes,,,not chicken fingers with a side of fries…HUMAN fingers with a side of OWWWWW!!
Yikes! What a creepy critter!
Once I finish school would love to go with you to the zoo… I have a feeling you’ll know where all the cool spots are
I’ve been once and I DID spend the whole day to get my money’s worth
Let me know when! I’ll probably have a free ticket for you.
On our recent trip to the zoo, we tried to by a year pass and were denied because our zip code is not in San Diego County. I really don’t get that.
I never understood that, either. If someone wants to buy a year pass, let ‘em. After all, the farther away they are, the less likely they are to use it.
We had planned to go there and the Animal Park at least a couple of times a year, but I guess it will be the LA and Santa Barbara Zoo from now on.
I’m so excited for the Koala’s, that’s fantastic. I wonder how long they’ll be working on that? We are coming to San Diego Dec 6th and would love to see whats new at the zoo.
I think the new exhibit is supposed to be open in May 2013. The two koalas that we still have are over by the end of the Skyfari ride, near Polar Bear Plunge. You can easily miss them if you’re not looking for them.
Good to know, thanx Russel
Look after the Koalas Ray, we are getting low on numbers down here due to habitat degradation/urban sprawl and government indifference. They are actually on ‘endangered’ lists in some parts of the country.
be good to yourself
David
warm and fuzzy Zoey!
That is a face only a Mother can love ….aawww … imagine going through life like that?
I’m sure she has a good personality.~~~~ : – )
Is that thing alive? I’m impressed too… of Zoey TCC, not that prehistoric thing
Lovely photo. Nobody is beautiful or ugly, its just that they are different.