A Great Day at the Memphis Zoo 4/10/2009

We left early this morning to drive into Memphis for a visit to the Memphis Zoo and what a fun day it was. The zoo was absolutely great. The Memphis Zoo is home to more than 3,500 animals representing over 500 different species. Created in April 1906, the zoo has been a major tenant of Overton Park for more than 100 years. In 2008, the Memphis Zoo was ranked "#1 Zoo in the U.S." by TripAdvisor.com. The zoo is set on 76 acres of Overton Park, of which approximately 55 acres are developed. The zoo's animal inhabitants reside in 19 exhibits in three zones, such as Northwest Passage and China, home to Giant Pandas Ya Ya and Le Le. The zoo hosts modern exhibits that mimic the animals' natural habitats, such as Once Upon A Farm, Cat Country, Primate Canyon, Dragon's Lair, Animals of the Night, Northwest Passage , Tropical Bird House, Herpetarium, Aquarium, African Veldt, The Northwest Passage, China (which is home to the zoo's two Giant Pandas, Ya Ya and Le Le), and is currently building the Teton Trek.
In the East Zone are Northwest Passage - Home to the zoo's Polar Bears. The $23 million exhibit opened on March 1, 2006, and features an underwater viewing building, Sea Lion observation bubble and a 500-seat amphitheater for daily Sea Lion shows. The Northwest Passage is also home to the zoo's American Bald Eagles, Black Bears, and Ravens. African Veldt - African Elephants and Giraffe are joined by Zebras, Antelope, Rhinoceros and Ostriches in this area. The zoo's African Cranes, Bontebok, Dik Dik, Lechwe and Oryx also call this area home. Denizens of the Deep South - This area, with viewing areas above and below the water, features the zoo's American Alligator (named "Beta"), Alligator Gar, Largemouth Bass, and other species that call America's southern waterways home. World of Waterfowl - Two wooden bridges take visitors around a wetland. It is home to around 30 Chilean Flamingos, a pair of Black-necked Swans, White-faced Whistling Duck Ross' Geese, the North American Ruddy Duck, the Demoiselle Crane, Mandarin Ducks and the Common Pintail.
In the Central Zone are China - Opened in April 2003, this $16 million exhibit is a zoogeographical area the Memphis Zoo constructed after it became one of only four U.S. zoos to exhibit the Giant Panda. Other animals showcased in this effort to preserve Chinese species of animals include Asian Small-clawed Otter, Red-billed Blue Magpie, Azure-winged Magpie, Hog Deer, Hooded Crane, White-naped Crane, Temminck's Tragopan, Père David's Deer, White-Cheeked Gibbon, Francoís Langur, Lady Amherst Pheasant, Golden Pheasant, Reeve's Pheasant, Smew, Falicated Duck, and White-crested Laughing Thrush. Primate Canyon - This exhibit was opened in 1995, it features naturalistic, outdoor exhibit areas for Western Lowland Gorillas, Sumatran Orangutans and Siamang Gibbons. Other animals in the area are Lion-tailed Macaques, the Mona Monkey, Sulawesi Macaques and the Eastern Black-and-white Colobus. Cat Country - The 3 acres (0.012 km2), open-air exhibit houses African Lions, Cheetahs, Reeve's Muntjac, Leopard, Meerkats, Caracal Lynx, Capybara, Clouded Leopard, Klipspringer, Cougars, Sumatran Tiger, Crested Screamer, Jaguar, Snow Leopard, Red Panda, Fennec Fox, and Ocelot. Hippos - A mother/daughter duo of hippos named "Julie" and "Splish" are showcased. Bonobos - Six Bonobos (including a baby Bonobo born in 2005) live in this indoor/outdoor hybrid exhibit across from the China exhibit. The Bonobo is endangered, and is found in the wild only in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Animals of the Night - This exhibit reverses the daily cycle of nonctournal animals, giving visitors the chance to see night-dwellers at their most active. Species on exhibit are: Aardvark, African Crested Porcupine, Binturong, Brush-tailed porcupine, Bulldog Bat, Cacomistle, Coatimundi, Cuscus Golden-rumped Agouti, Jamaican Fruit Bat, Kinkajou, Naked Mole Rat, Owl Monkey, Prehensile-tailed porcupine, Rousetta Bat, Sebae’s Short-tailed Bat, Slender Loris, Slow Loris, Springhaas, Striped Possum, Sugar Glider, Tamandua, Three-banded Armadillo, Two-toed Sloth, Vampire Bat and Wombat.
In the West Zone are Komodo Dragons - This exhibit was specifically built for largest lizard in the world. The zoo's three dragons share a special exhibit with outdoor and indoor areas allowing them to stay warm during the cool winter months. Tropical Bird House - Toucans greet visitors at the entrance to the zoo's Tropical Bird House. The building is home to exotic bird species from around the world. Aquarium - One of the oldest exhibits at the Memphis Zoo, the aquarium remains a very active and interesting exhibit. The building houses aquatic life from both fresh and salt water environments. Penguin Rock - Over 30 African Penguins live across from the zoo's rides area at Penguin Rock. Also home to American White Pelican and Double-crested Cormorant. Trumpeter Swans - The Trumpeter Swans reside in a tranquil part of the zoo across from the Asian Garden. Once Upon a Farm - An exhibit built to resemble an early 1900s farm. Home to the species Caspian Horse, Domestic Goat, Prairie Dog, Rabbit, Domestic Chicken, Jersey Cow, Yucatan Mini Pig, Pekin Duck and Miniature Donkey. Herpetarium - Located across from the Tropical Bird House, the herpetarium is home to the zoo's snakes, alligators, lizards and frogs, and includes a Reticulated Python. Other exhibits include some of the most venomous snakes in the world, including the Green Mamba. Round Barn - Home to Giraffe Gazelles or Gerenuks, which are known by their extremely long necks. Keepers encourage this foraging behavior by placing tall bamboo stems in their exhibit. Also home to White Storks, West-African Crowned Cranes, Warthogs, the Abyssinian Ground-Hornbill, the African Ground-hornbill, Red River Hogs, Yellow-backed Duikers, Bongos, Dik Dik, Klipspringer, Dama Gazelle.
Well what did you think? We really really loved our time there and I think the exhibit we liked the most of course was the pandas, Ya Ya & Le Le. It really is a shame to see them all caged just for our pleasure but you really don't know maybe they like it but would they like it more in there native countries in the wild? Well anyway it was a very lovely zoo, well kept and very clean. After we left we drove back to the RV and had lunch and watched TV till it was time for dinner. Well until tomorrow when we are back to caching we miss you guys and love you all. Mom & Dad


Picture List: All pictures from the Memphis Zoo.