Singapore Zoo

Here is the day when we test Blogger's picture capacity limit. I will attempt to upload close to 100 pictures and see if it works. I will keep my comments brief and make this a photo essay with a few captions in the way of explanation. (Technical Note: I tried to create a Picasa web album and then just discuss the zoo, but I really need the pictures on the same page to do that well. I uploaded the 300 pictures to a Google Plus album, but picked out these 100 to share. If I had more time, I'd pare it down to closer to 50.)

Before leaving for the zoo, Ted found a gecko for the kids to check out. We decided he would become our porch gecko, but strangely he wasn't here when we got back home.

First we saw the otters playing.

The Singapore Zoo has a lot of open features. the orang utans here mostly stayed on one side of the moat but some were climbing in the treetops above the paths back into the exhibit. They were all over the place.

This one is hiding out under the bleachers smoking a cigarette.

Monkey bars.

The white rhinos were playing and fighting, very active. 

Cheetah checking us out.

We got pretty close to the zebras.

The requisite "Zoe and Her Zebra" shot.

Mr Warthog

We sat and watched the giraffes for a bit.

The lions were protesting the zoo. Stayed this way the whole time. Can't say that I blame them though.

There was a whole display with naked mole rats. None of the pictures turned out, but this one with the model did. Wow!

This was my favorite part of the zoo. It was called Fragile Forest and people can walk inside and the animals are freely roaming, hanging out. We saw these flying foxes, which are huge bats. 

Ted really likes these guys, native to Singapore and Malaysia. They are called mouse deer (as opposed to deer mice). I suppose they are cat size maybe, like cat-sized deer.

I didn't know what this guy was but the kids thought he was a pigeon. While he's much bigger than a typical pigeon, they were right. He is a blue-crowned pigeon, the world's largest type. We'll see him again later.

These ring-tailed lemurs were playing around like crazy. There were so many of them!

You could pet them and get pictures and everything. We decided not to pet though. This one's eyes made that decision for us.

And here you have a sloth calmly eating food with some of the flying foxes.

Hey. look at the anatomy on that thing!

Butterflies always love Zoe, which I think speaks to her inner being. They know she's a good egg.

Butterflies in a tree.

Please lemur, don't jump on my head!

There's that pigeon again. Zoe was shocked. She quietly but excitedly said, "He just walked right by me carrying a thtick!"

Here are a bunch of the large bats (flying foxes) hanging out.

When we walk in or out of one of these free areas, this is what it looks like:

And now for the baboon butts! They swell when they are in heat, you know.

This area was kind of a big baboon spa. They were all lounging around, grooming each other. The kids were playing on the rocks. Ted said he watched as one really little one got too close to the water and one of the adults (maybe mama?) gently grabbed his tail. Didn't tug it or anything, just kept a hold of it in case he started tumbling down. The little guy didn't even notice he was being taken care of!

I LOVE THIS POSE! 

THIS ONE TOO!

After leaving the baboons, we went to the Australian Outback area to help feed the kangaroos.

The Bach family waiting for our turn to meet the kangaroo family.

Zoe's turn

Wyatt feeds while Zoe softly pets

Ella had a turn too.

The two families!

On our way to lunch and the water park.

Gibbon? No. I forget what kind this is. Anyone?

The chimps were fascinating. This guy just worked on the food puzzle the whole time.

While these two played. Here the baby is getting tickled by big brother or sister. Can you see that smile?

Carrying the baby.

"Yeah, I got it out. So what?"

Our choices for lunch were Ben and Jerry's or KFC. They are everywhere. 

Wyatt has studied his sister's behavior. Zoe always finishes her stuff first and then tries to take Wyatt's. He likes to save his drink for last and was not about to let Zoe swipe his. He ate  one-handed with the other hand around his iced milo.

The showers at the water park.

After cooling off, we visited the komodo dragon. So very friendly.

And the iguana.

And huge eating tortoises.

We also so the sun bears.

Bats on the ceiling.

We had "Zoe and Her Zebra" and now these are "Ella and Her Elephant"

Wyatt passed out while we were watching the calm elephants.

Can you spot the orang utan in the trees above the path?

This zoo was amazing. It was definitely the best zoo I've visited in a long time, maybe even better than Columbus or San Diego. Most of the animals have generous habitats and seem well taken care of. The landscaping is gorgeous and everything is just thoughtfully done. 

We also found out that there is a three-day camp here after school gets out in November where kids get to meet some of the animals and hang out here all day exploring. We are signing up Ella now, but Zoe is too young. Now we have to find something for her to do.

Next up for the family, we're taking a big trip to Malaysia this weekend to stay in a family chalet on a small island. They have all kinds of activities for the kids to do and beautiful beaches. No air con, but hopefully we'll get used to it quickly. This will be our last chance to take such an adventure before the girls start school on September 10th. I can't wait! For both to happen!