The Kansas City Zoo provided a nice field trip on a sunny April Saturday.....Marshall, Andy, and I headed east to Swope Park to visit this "exotic" venue.
Arriving at 10:30, the place was abuzz with toddlers, preschoolers and parents....
by 11:30 the high energy/excitement level of these youngsters had waned as they wandered along on warm asphalt to see the sights of "Africa" and "Australia." Parental enthusiasm and patience were tested as the sun's warmth intensified.
By 11:30 many of the inhabitants were bored...snoozing in the warm sunshine....a lone gorilla draped artistically across the lawn slept so peacefully I thought he was a goner! Lions rested in the shade on a distanct hillside. A cluster of monkeys/apes were so well hidden in a thicket of trees a 100 yards away that only a patient 30 year old with 20/20 vision could initally spot them....they entertained by calling loudly to each other...."stay hidden and the fools will leave!"
Only a few species were active...an ape family allowed their tiniest family member to be viewed quite easily. Elephants made the effort....strolling leisurely along the "people viewing" side of their enclosed acreage. Zebras and giraffes walked placidly around the habitat designed for them. The kangaroos and joeys watched us warily from an unfenced meadow....last time we visited a kangaroo hopped right across the path in front of us.
The old Ape House is no longer in use....the old 10x10 cells are ivy covered reminders of the days when no thought was given to "animal rights." The new design is an improvement.....
Three hours of leisurely strolling over two miles of paths made a nice diversion from the mundane chores of the weekend.
ellen
Getting physical
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Training sessions have been going really well these past few weeks. I
swim, lift, and run on my own (or with the masters swim team) during the
week, and o...
12 years ago
2 comments:
It sounds like you had fun Ellen. I like your easy, breezy writing style. I have never been to a zoo with an unfenced meadow. Jeepers. What if a kangaroo wanted to kickbox? Were you wearing your running shoes?
Salina has Rolling Hills Wildlife Preserve. The zoo is in a beautiful setting. The landscaping is impeccable. However, one has to walk up and down some steep hills while admiring the view and the animals. I visited the zoo several times when I worked for Good Sam. We took the residents every fall. The residents were usually pooped when we got home; not to mention the staff!
Does Swope Park still have a little train to take visitors around the park?
I think I remember going with Grandma and Grandpa to Swope Park. That was a long time ago, folks.
I am glad you took a break from your usual routine. Thanks for sharing the experience.
You get to walk around with kangaroos at the KC Zoo? How big are those things?
It sounds like it was a lovely day. Wish I could have joined you. Thanks for sharing it here. I'll join you vicariously through our blog. :-)
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