Next Horizon: San Diego Zoo and it's Animal Ambassadors

This was not my first visit to the San Diego Zoo, but the last visit was about 15-20 years ago.

For Gary, it was a first.
We were overwhelmed with the physical size and the amount of information we would experience during this outing.
And, we only managed to cover, perhaps, 50% of the exhibits!

The San Diego Zoo, located within the central portion of Balboa Park, has definitely changed since my last visit, and is even now undergoing reconstruction for some of the exhibits.

Looking up at the gondolas

To assist visitors, there are tour buses, hoppers (buses with a few on and off stops to take you to key areas), escalators, gondolas, and probably another choice or two I missed. While the gondolas looked interesting, my fear of heights kept me on the ground, walking along the many, many pathways.

And, most important, there are individuals (volunteers? staff?) strategically located to help direct visitors to a show, animal, food court, etc.

So many direction choices. People on right admiring peacock in tree above them!

Today's zoos, along with other facilities having captive animals, are facing mixed publicity. Certainly, the "road-side" animal exhibits from my childhood days are, and should be, a "thing of the past".

However, there are important reasons for quality zoological institutions to exist - to be open to the public and to be engaged in "behind the scenes' research to protect and promote good healthy species. Endangered, and vulnerable, species need to be preserved. Public education is a key priority. Too many species are disappearing.

Educator sharing information with visitors

We learned a couple of interesting facts about Galapagos tortoises. These animals, a favorite of animal lovers and an unforgettable "oddity" for most of us, are actually endangered in their native island habitat due to changes occurring to their homeland.

And, each island produces a variety of the tortoise that is unique in its shell pattern!

Given the global climate changes, the removal of habitat (mostly due to our species), and other survival issues, future human generations may miss the joy of watching a fox sleeping in a tree, the crazy antics of a river otter, or the graceful cheetah running. Having animals available for us to observe, and learn more about them, will increase our appreciation of their place in this world (remember, vultures are important and have very interesting skills).

Our first area to visit was Australia, which definitely has an assortment of interesting and (mostly) lovable animals.

Totems from "down under"

Tasmanian Devil - cute sleeping

Many koalas were busy eating up in their "trees"

The koala breeding season begins with the males secreting a scent from a gland located in the center of his chest. This sticky "goo" is rubbed by the male on trees to attract the female. The image below shows the scent gland with the goo (darkened spot).

Along one of the trails we noticed this bamboo that, apparently was used as a communication "hub"!?

As we were walking through the Africa exhibit area, we observed a beautiful cheetah.

And then another one, with a surprise in its enclosure

While stopping and watching we looked beyond the cheetah and saw a dog in the enclosure with the cat.

Dog in enclosure with the cheetah

A blonde labrador retriever dog, in the area with the cheetah - just sitting there peacefully watching the cat. Well, then we looked around and realized we were in a special education area for visitors to see and learn a bit about the zoo's Animal Ambassador Program.

With a little time studying about this on the internet, we became better educated on this very interesting program. The Cheetah is the zoo's "official animal", a part of the zoo's animal ambassador program.

With that introduction to the ambassador program, I had to learn more about it!
Animal ambassadors are specially trained for educational purposes - they may be at a presentation, or an off-site event. Some, like the timber wolves, may be seen on the zoo grounds being "walked" on leash for their exercise and (probably) getting accustomed to various situations.

Several cheetahs, being the "official animal" are trained, beginning in their youth, to have a companion - and, the companion is a domestic dog (also young when they are paired). Cheetahs, endangered and a bit skittish, are calmed by their companion's presence. I was surprised to learn that the pairing continues for their lives and that they will typically be together all the time (often curled up together sleeping). But there is one exception. They are separated during feeding - the concern is that the dog (who can be the dominant of the pair) - will eat all the food. Sometimes the dog may take the cheetah's leash and "walk it" - I am guessing that is during an event; in their enclosures that we saw they were both untethered. And the biggest surprise of all - - this companion program is over 30 years old!

We'll end our zoo trip post with some cute animal pictures....