Rio Grande Zoo

Adults, teens, children all strolled the paths by waterfalls, and ponds, coves with sculptures, along side animals enclosures with “mud” walls. The Thunderbird Express train ran along small tracks taking visitors through the park. There's a children’s playground. On the wide green lawn, a volunteer with a parrot was giving children (and adults) a chance to see the beautiful bird up close.

Year round there’s seal and sea lion feeding. Afterwards, walk down under their pool and watch these graceful mammals glide, twist, and roll through the water. You can also catch the polar bear feeding.

In the summer, the public feedings expand. In the Australia area visitors can buy a cup of nectar and feed the colorful lorikeets. The giraffe area offers opportunities to feed these long-necked mammals. Llamas are brought out to the green lawn by the Cottonwood Café. Docents in the Backyard Habitat exhibit introduce visitors to African Crested or Prehensile-Tailed porcupines.

Although the gusty winds caused an abbreviated encounter at the Animal Encounter Show in the Natural Theater, we still got to meet Cassidy the red-tailed hawk and Beau, the talking parrot who could be induced to bark like a dog and laugh.

Founded in 1927, the Rio Grande Zoo has expanded greatly over the years, and is in the process of yet further development. There will be an Asia area and the elephant area will be expanded.

There’s always something happening in the Rio Grande Zoo. In addition to Mosi, the baby giraffe, there’s a pregnant zebra about to have her baby, and two snow leopard cubs born on May 7, 2009. Mother and cubs are not on exhibit at this time but will soon make their appearance in the Catwalk area when the cubs are old enough. For more information visit: BioPark: Zoo