Columbus January 9

More from January 9th.

Bodega. He's a California sea lion that's about 26 years of age and is a lot bigger than the females in the tank. Males develop a bump on their heads as they mature.

Harbor seal. Unless the animal is close to the glass, it looks blue.

More Sunshine

The Animal Encounters Village has a rotating selection of animals. There's a tank near the entrance that has had penquins, otters, and a duck.

Melvin. She's a domesticated duck that will follow a person along the glass.

These blue-and-yellow macaws were preening partners.

sand cat

Stingray Bay is across from the Village's exit, so I wandered in before I left the zoo. Volunteers outnumbered visitors three-to-one and I was the one. I didn't have any interest in touching the rays, but one of the volunteers was very enthusiastic and I kept hanging around, so what else could I do?

Mostly, the cownose rays bumped my hand. What looks like a mouth in the video is related to suction that's used to get food into its mouth, which is on the underside.

Columbus October 3

Melvin, a female domestic duck with a severe deformity or significant refraction

white cockatoo

I wonder if the sand cats ever get to go outside. Whenever I visit in the same room in the Village.

male African lion, engaging in the most common lion activity

This female African lion was looking at another one.

dromedary camel

I got lucky. When I decided to press the button, the bee was on the flower. By the time the shutter fired, the honey bee was flying (and in focus!).

northern paper wasp, I think

Columbus August 8

On August 8, at the Columbus Zoo I limited my visit to the Animal Encounters Village because it was stinkin' humid and part of the Village is indoors.

Toco toucan. It wasn't until I looked at the picture at home that I realized I'd caught the brush-like tongue.

radiated tortoise

southern tamandua (lesser anteater)

Asian small-clawed otter

sand cat

capybara

 

A few cats

These are "small cats" except for the leopard. All pictures are from the Columbus Zoo.

Geoffroy's cat

 

I often find these sand cats sleeping.

There was a fly in their room, and one of the trio got it (out of the air, if I remember correctly). At least, they and I thought so, but we didn't see the fly again.

serval

African leopard

African leopard