FUN DAY AT THE KNOXVILLE ZOO

My family [Kelly, Kerry, Knox, Shelby, Elijah, Neil and moi, minus Holly and Jerry] spent today at the Knoxville Zoo. The last time Neil and I were here, our girls Kelly and Holly were 6 and 4 years old ~ more than thirty years ago. It’s the second week of Fall Break and a gorgeous Autumn day to be outside enjoying some time together on a way cool nature walk. I won’t even pretend to remember the names of all these creatures.

Black Bear

There were a few Penguins ~ most of them stood with their backs to us and seemed to stare at the wall. Yes, humans are just that boring.

Prairie Dog ~ they would disappear inside the holes they’d dug

Under The Dome ~ grandson Knox inside the bubble up close and personal with the prairie dogs

I think this is a Marmosets Sloth

Armadillo

When I was a young Warthog! Pumbaa, is that you? So cute.

Mommy Warthog

This little elephant was doing either ballet or yoga

The elephants were throwing mud all over themselves, trying to stay cool in the bright sun

Love the unusual color of this giraffe’s markings ~ {he? she?} It looks like it’s smiling for the camera

Zebras are so very pretty

Baboon

He enjoyed a sip of water …

… and then moved on to sit on his rock and completely ignore the humans. Can’t much blame him.

I think we left him laying here in the same spot thirty years ago. I guess some of these animals are so bored, sleepy or lazy that they look dead

Well, some animals, anyway … Tiger paced his cage, back and forth, around and around, not looking dead at all. He looked like he was ready for lunch.

Chimpanzee

Such an expressive face

He looks sad. Makes me sad.

Chimpanzee chillin

Chimpanzee


The Gorillas were the best part of the whole zoo. So glad we got to see the babies while they’re still babies

This momma stayed in the corner with her baby

She was very watchful of everything going on around her


This baby’s mom took him up into a nest away from the people at the window



He had a great time playing with the straw and picking his nose

Stuck on you

European White Stork

Tyger Tyger, burning bright, In the forests of the night …. [for all you English lit types out there]

Gibbon ~ these apes like to “whoop” it up and swing from tree to tree

Look at those long long fingers on the Gibbon

Maybe needs a manicure

Red Wolf ~ it wasn’t until he got up that we realized he was missing a leg ~ but he ran around quite well with the three he had

Good advice. And not just a suggestion.

I do not know what this is but I think it’s safe to say it is some kind of bird

Looks kind of like a parrot but it’s not ~ don’t know what it is exactly but it sure is pretty

I think we left him here in the same spot thirty years ago …

This pretty owl kept a sharp eye on ….

…. this crazy squirrel who found his way into the owl cage [pretty sure things turned out OK for the squirrel]

Parakeets! Flying around everywhere in the bird house, dive bombing humans ~ a loud and colorful flock ~ there were hundreds it seemed

Kerry and Knox found a closer view of this big old Beaver ~ fun to watch them swim [we were disappointed that the Otters were taking a nap when we dropped by so we didn’t get to watch them play]

The zoo was dressed up for Halloween. A nice lady offered to take a family group shot for us with this big pumpkin kid on our way out. Good times! Fun day!