We took a drive to the zoo in late August and had a great time walking around with the grandkids and their mommie. We were quite surprised at the number of flowers in bloom. August and September, is the great variety season of colors in Nebraska. Here is a sample of just a few of the flowers we ran across. So as you see, there is more to see than just the animals at the Henry Doorly Zoo.
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What’s not to love at the Zoo.
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It’s that time of year again, when the temps start to once again climb into what is cool in Texas. 70′s may not seem that warm to many, but to us here in Omaha Nebraska, 70′s are a perfect time to start thinking about a visit to the Henry Doorly for some nature sight-seeing. We stopped over just a couple of weeks ago and it was only about 55 degrees, and a bit on the wet side. But it was still nice to take a walk around the zoo and see who was out and about.
It was still a little too cold for a number of the outdoor exhibits, but that’s ok, as over half of everything can be found indoors! Once we start sticking up around 80, we should find area’s such as the Madagascar outdoor section open once again. Currently everyone was still hanging out indoors. Around the Gorilla house, everyone there was also still indoors, but somewhat more active than I have seen them. I think they too know that spring is in the air, and soon they will be able to spend some time outdoors.
For those looking for an overview of the zoo, the Skyfarrie ride was not yet up and running, but I am sure it will be soon, what with the shift in weather. But oblivious to the cooler air, was the Polar bears, who were entertaining everyone swimming around in the outdoor pool area. Until you see a Polar Bear swimming next to the glass with a child’s face pressed up against it, you may fail to realize just how big one of these bears really is. I don’t think I would ever want to try petting one. I don’t care how tame they say he is. I’m staying on the other side of the fence or glass barrier.
During our visit, we went to the Desert Dome, Creatures of the Night (below the Desert Dome), the outdoor Bear area, Madagascar, and the Aquarium. So we only missed out that day on seeing, Pakaderm Hill, the Sea Lions, Butterfly House, Lied Jungle, Mutual Pavillion exhibit, The Cat House, the children’s Dairy Petting Farm, the Giraffe Barn, the Orangutans, and a few other smaller exhibits that we normally visit in the summer months.
So, if you’re looking to get outdoors, but have some great indoor area’s to go as well, head on over to the Henry Doorly Zoo. Everyone’s waiting to see you!
First I must admit that I altered this Lemur photo I took at the Zoo’s Madagascar exhibit. Any of you who have taken the family to see “Madagascar”, I am sure will still recognise the number one aid to King Julien. His eyes are not really this big, and neither is his claws. But you have to stay indoors long enough to let your eyes fully adjust if you are going to see him. He is really more of a night person, so they have his room dark during the day and light at night, so you have a better chance of seeing him moving around inside the exhibit. If you really want to see what he looks like for real, you are just going to have to come to the Henry Doorly Zoo and see for yourself.
Tis the season to be jolly and visit the Zoo! Yes? Well it was for us this last weekend. With the colder weather, comes fewer people visiting the Zoo. The good thing about this, is there is no pressure to move on, providing space for the next person. You get to sit and spend some time watching many of the animals for hours on end, if you desire. We spend about two hours in the Orangutan and Gorilla houses.
The interesting thing was we saw more movement and activities of the Orangutans and Gorillas than we normally ever do. In the Orangutan house, the two-year old kids were playing constantly with each other. They would chase each other, throwing a blanket at each other, and or some of the straw which was laid around their area. In the adjacent holding area, there were two males, one of which kept hiding under a large white cloth sheet, playing what appeared to be Hide-and-seek, with the two youngsters on the other side of the grated door separating the two area.
Over in the gorilla house, the zoo has a new addition who was riding around on his mothers back. One of the other females could be seen climbing up a tree, jumping over to a rock shelf and on one occasion, jumping over to a hanging rope, to swing back onto another log. This was indeed something I have never seen them do before. When there are crowds of people surround them, they seem more apt to just sit there, staring off into the distance. Either board with all the activity on the other side of the glass, or perhaps unwilling to provide all those eyes with anything more than an occasional glance.
So, when is a good time to go to the Zoo. I would say that last weekend proves that anytime is a good time to visit the Henry Doorly Zoo!
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This last weekend, the Henry Doorly Zoo lost one of it’s long time residents. Maliaka, the 47-year-old African elephant died somewhat unexpectantly. It was reported that zoo keepers found her laying on her side in the morning and died just a few hours later.
Maliaka on the left side of image.
This photo was taken back in 2008. Maliaka is the one on the left side of the Photo. She came to the zoo when only 3 years old. So, she had been a member of the zoo family for many years. Though she leaves us with a sad note of loss for the zoo and all of us zoo members, a ray of sunshine is the plans to expand the pachyderm exhibit to someday hold up to six of these beautiful and majestic animals. And this hold the promise that the Zoo will be able to continue it’s efforts in maintaining breeding programs for endangered or at risk groups of animals.
As African Elephants can live to be up to 70 years of age, sadly Maliaka left us perhaps a little too early, but non-the-less, she did share many years with all of us return visitors. She will be missed.
Yes it has been a very busy summer. Only made it to the zoo once this summer. Before the year ends, it will be time to take a fall walk around the Zoo. Already looking forward to what next year might bring, with the ball stadium next door, becoming part of the zoo’s property. Though it will be sad to see the iconic Rosenblatt Stadium, home of the College World Series, be demolished, it will be equally just as exciting to see what the new acreage will mean for the zoo.
I hope to visit the zoo in the next few weeks, and hope to share a few new photo’s.
Hope everyone else had a good summer and hope to see you this fall at the Zoo!
Coming to a Zoo near you, it’s the real live friends of Madagascar. The Henry Doorly Zoo is opening a new exhibit straight out of the real life Madagascar. On May 7th, 2010, everyone will have the opportunity to walk through the newest exhibit filled with the wildlife of the island of Madagascar.
Of course there will be Lemurs of various types, the changing shades of Chameleons, and no visit would be complete with the dreaded Fossa.
So if you are feeling like a little “I like to move it, move it” music, check out the link compliments of the Blog of Mark Stevens: : I-like-to-move-it-move-it
Though I do not have any photo’s yet to share, I just like everyone else, will be in line to capture, “what is new” at the Zoo.
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