The first section of my blog is about the trip to the El Paso Zoo. It was a modest fee to visit. It was a modest zoo. Small in size and amount of animals, but big on education, knowledge, and preserving. There were some regulars that you would see at any zoo, and some surprises. For example, they would frequently have birds from the various regions in the display with the mammals. When we entered the lady at the window said that some animals would still be in their “homes” because it was a cool morning. Being still January, and the middle of the week, the zoo had very, very few visitors. There were several families at the playground in the morning. I would think they had year passes and brought children for play dates.
The first animal was this gorgeous lion. Usually I see them sleeping in the zoos.
Here is a closer look, looking through a window. Look at the claw marks! I hear all the animal cruelty arguments for and against animals in cages in zoos. Yes, there were some just pacing. But I believe many zoos try hard to keep them entertained. Sometimes I feel sorry when I see them in a pen, yet education and knowledge is important. This zoo could improve in some parts, but they did quite well in other parts. Opinions aside, here’s the zoo.
I had stepped away from the glass to get a clearer, close-up pic of this handsome beast. Sometimes when I zoom in with a camera I can’t find my subject. This was one of those times, I zoomed in to look at the lion and I saw these instead! I didn’t even know they were there.
Well, not in the same area, but close by. Below was the view I was looking for. Meow.
You probably figured out by now that the first section of the zoo I visited was Africa. I love Africa. What about these beautiful Painted dogs? Look at the colors!
Here’s a closeup.
And their token giraffe. Look at the highway behind him.
Here’s an example of a bird from the region. Largest goose in the world!
The zebras were hard to get a good pic of.
Leaving Africa. Look closely, the giraffe is made of many other animals.
On to the........
This was a brand new exhibit. Much of southern Texas is in the Chihuahuan Desert.
One of the first things I saw in this section was this giant structure with ropes and bridges. I could have climbed on it and all over it for $8.00. I would be hooked on and have a guide right by me. My adventurous spirit really wanted to do it, but my age and weight embarrass me. Stupid! I have been on a zip-line and I loved it! I have stood in line with kids to ride a camel. I am an adventurous introvert.
Love Prickly Pears! They are all over! Even here near San Antonio where we are out of the desert. At least I think we are.........
I read somewhere that Prickly Pears are being studied to grow on other planets because they are so hardy. I just googled this to see if I could find where I got the information. I don’t see it right now, but I did see maps of where prickly pears grow. All over the US, even into Ontario!!! Wait, I grew up in PA and I don’t remember seeing any then. But two maps from two scientific organizations show them everywhere. I will be searching in every state now!
Oh, ha ha. Here is where I learned it. Geesh! Lol. Live on, prickly pears!
Desert deer
I couldn’t get a good pic, but this plaque was interesting.
Yup! Didn’t see any, but their exhibit looked comfortable for them.
This was a bridge walkway for the animals in this exhibit. He was lying right above my head!
I love big cats. I think I was admiring a lot and didn’t get enough pics. He was making a horrid noise before we walked up, sounded like an elephant.
Turn the corner and there is this.......the operator let me in to get up close to take pictures.
Such beautiful artwork.
The next section was Asia
These monkeys, or siamang, were quite entertaining.
This bird. Owl? Hawk?
A Tawny Frogmouth!!! Click and read. Way cool looking
I copied the picture I took of the tawny frogmouth and changed the coloring. He looks a little plastic, but you can see him better. A cool bird.
A snake.
A cool reptile.
The token tiger, meow.
And a wild horse from Russia. Critically endangered.
Moorhens? Look like coots!!! Well, according to all about birds.org, they are found year round in Mexico, Florida, and Cuba. This was in the South America exhibit, so I’m sure they are there, too! I didn’t see any, though, in their avairy.
Here is a list of birds you may find in this aviary. I didn’t find everything. I didn’t see the red-crested cardinal, but I have pics of them in Hawai’i.
Inca Tern
Northern Oriole
Scarlet Ibis. There were several of these in the aviary. You can see their bright feathers from a distance, it is what drew me over.
More stunning in real life.
The backside of a large tortoise.
Nice of these keepers to check over this tortoise so I could get a pic of his neck and head. They were checking the shell and rubbing his neck.
I told Richard I needed to go back and see Africa. He sat down and started his blog. This time the girls were out. There were three girls with the male lion.
And a little better picture of the zebras. They were eating the whole time so that is why they are posed this way.
We found this sign curious. Jeeps?
Another day we went to the free Border Patrol Museum. We were surprised to find stories of the border patrol going into Canada and Alaska.
A yellow poppy! Spring is coming!
The main color for the border patrol used to be this green. Is it mint green? Aqua green? Anyway, it is the color I had the outside of the house painted, the color of my coffee pot, and the color of my iPad keyboard and case.
Yea, this guy.
Read the story about this fast car!
Fun display
Ladders they confiscated. Wow.
An escape boat. Illegal immigrants arrested.
Border Patrol Pipes and Drums? Yes, music is so important in every part of life.
And these heroes.
Well, they don’t need to seize the marijuana anymore.
There was a memorial room that didn’t allow pictures. There was a book in there with pictures and stories of every BP person killed in the line of duty. Many of the first ones in the early 1900’s were killed by the illegals. They were shot by the bad guys. Many of the stories recently were of people killed by cars.
Next stop..........A scenic view of the city. The taller buildings are downtown El Paso
The water in the middle is the Rio Grande. It is much smaller than I thought it would be. The “X” in the middle is a sculpture in Mexico. Here is the explaination.
Please click and read....very interesting. Hope
Close up of Mexico. Their houses are very colorful
So many people on both sides, but I hear the Mexico City of Ciudad Juarez has more.
This painted shop was in our RV park. I thought it pretty cool. It shows the 3 missions close by.
Well, I’m all done with this blog. I was able to write 2 postcards, clip the cat’s claws, and clean off the kitchen table while pictures were uploading. They actually went pretty fast. Last night it got down to 28 degrees, and I saw a few snowflakes around 10PM. Richard is in Fairbanks (he’s on his way home as I type). I had to undo our water last night to keep it from freezing. It is now in the 40’s and warm inside.
Thanks for reading, sorry about the delay. What comes next? Already posted my silly selfies at the petting farm, so next will be Big Bend and all we saw there.
Thanks for reading!
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