Happy Zoo Year

Someone told me it's all happening at the zoo... so for our second tourist outing in Houston (not actually on New Year's Day or even New Year's Eve, but I was stuck for a title), we went to their Texas-sized and quite impressive zoo.

The zoo is just off downtown Houston, at the center of the immense Hermann Park. It was a little cool again, but that probably worked in our favour, keeping the holiday crowds down to a manageable level. It also helped keep us from overheating as we bustled through the many exhibits. (The best pictures are Glory's!)

 All right, we get it, Texas longhorns are bigger than regular cows, but - oh, wait, Ankore cattle are from Africa?

Nevermind.

This is just after my Mum told us that she thinks giraffes have a sexy walk. "So elegant!" she says.

Is it weird I think she might be right? (Don't answer that.)

Jaguar cubs at play, under the watchful eyes of a parent, some 4o feet higher up. In my mind, he is picking our choice cuts from the crowd, ready to pounce the instant that the fence drops, and since we didn't know he was there for several minutes, we are most likely appetizers in this scenario.

The shoulders on this siamang were absolutely immense.

 Just in time for feeding time at the lemur cage! Watching them bound to the fence (they don't walk anywhere, it turns out) brought back memories of watching Zoboomafoo with a much younger Fenya.

Yes, many cool birds, including the world's fanciest pigeon, but how about something a bit more dangerous?

Better, but no bald eagle has ever killed a human; what else ya got?

Whoa, a cassowary? Hey, that's more like it! Sure, their rep is a bit overstated, with only one documented kill, but you have to love a hairy-feathered bird that's essentially a cross between a wild turkey and a velociraptor. 

Truly, the face of the Devil's chicken.

Plenty of cool creepy crawlies in the bug house, including the largest walking sticks I'd ever seen and some very ambitious ants. 

 And lots of colour in the Reptile House as well.

 

Elephants are just generally cool, and one of two matriarchies we experienced (the lemurs were the other).

We had lunch almost immediately after seeing this laid back chimp (or chill-panzee, if you will), but I think it was coincidental.

Glory loves rhinocerii; "They are just fat unicorns."

The big cats are still fascinating to watch, but I won't lie, those habitats feel a little snug, which adds a caste of sadness to the whole affair.

Primates are great mates, one of who had a fake martial art named after him in a D&D campaign some thirty years back. (Iron Mandrill,if you must know.)

Speaking of D&D, is this guy from the 1st ed. Monster Manual?

No, wait, maybe this guy, he's pretty ominous in flight.

That look is kind of familiar; pretty sure this owl is drunk.

Ugh, you are nothing like the cartoon, roadrunner!

 I love this otter's expression though - perturbed bemusement?

These flamingos are kept on hand for establishing shots that make Houston look like Miami - they don't get as much work these days.

 

Like I said, it made for a pretty cool day...

...but that's to be expected when you run with a cool crowd.