Binder Park Zoo

My sister and her husband picked us up at 9:30 this morning to go to Binder Park Zoo. Their son, Tom, is doing an internship there with the animals. He has had a great experience getting up close and personal with many of the animals - in more ways than one!!! He even got to "play" with the baby snow leopard - only intern to do that!!!

Allison remembered this ant at the entrance - we took a trip there a couple years ago.
Alexander, Tom, Allison, Barb and Hunt.

You can't look at animals and not get a butt shot. These were prairie dogs. Tom said there were 22 - 25 of them - hard to get an accurate count!!! They were cute!!!

The highlight of this zoo is taking the tram to Zuri National Park - and getting to feed the giraffe. Also on the savanna are zebra, maribou stork, kudu, crowned crane, black vulture, ostrich and other animals.

Tom told us every day at closing they have to round up the animals for the night - most go very willingly to their pens. Occasionally animals need some prodding - but not to the body - sticks and loud noises usually do the trick.

You purchase some wafers to feed the giraffe and see more tongue than you ever want to!!!

Some are taller than others - and some you can feed thru the ropes.

Allison enjoyed this too.......

There are many views of Africa in this area of the zoo - ranger station, mess tent, camps, souvenirs, food, etc.

There was a walk thru aviary with some neat birds - tails longer than their bodies!!!!

The path is all in the woods - shady and comfortable.

At dinner, the kids said a good thing was to be with Tom, their cousin.

It shows in this picture.

Tom took us behind the scenes --- to where the animals were housed for educational purposes - a treat. He sure has learned a lot about these animals in the short time he has worked there. He told us information about the red panda, gray wolves, cheetahs, gibbons, llama, and many more animals. He knows the names of most of them - not just the animal name, they all have "real" names, too.

I did not know what time we would be home so I planned an easy dinner - the kids thought it was funny that we had breakfast for dinner - waffles and sausage!!!!! Alexander ate 4 waffles and 4 sausage - he wanted me to say that in the blog. Allison ate well, too - 3 and 3!!!!