ZOO VISIT

 

 After visiting the new Africa Rocks exhibit at the zoo Paul and I  explored some of the other exhibits that included the two large aviaries.  The San Diego Zoo is committed to saving species worldwide through expertise in animal care and conservation science.  The 100 acre Zoo is home to more than 3,500 rare and endangered animals representing  more than 650 species and subspecies and a prominent botanical collection with more than 700,000 exotic plants.  The temperate, sunny maritime climate is well suited to an extensive collection of birds, reptiles and mammals.
         It is one of the few zoos in the world that houses and successfully breeds the giant panda.  The zoo raises 40 varieties of bamboo for the pandas on long-term loan from China.

Toucan

Bonobos

                                               Lorikeets

Orangutan

Paul enjoys photography

SUN & SEA FESTIVAL

MISTY MOUNTAIN    First Prize
The Sun and Sea Festival was held on July 14-15, 2017. The festival featured world-class sandcastle sculptors creating some of the best sand creations on the West Coast. There was also a community parade, a pancake breakfast, live music, children's craft activities, a kids 'n kastles competition, a farmer's market and an international food fair.

The theme for this year's annual sand castle competition in Imperial Beach was                                   "Pirates in Paradise" showcasing the talents of world-class sandcastle sculptors. 
Paul took photos of some of the sandcastles.

MEDIEVAL CASTLE     People's Choice

AFRICA ROCKS

            Paul and I visited the San Diego Zoo — fresh off celebrating its first 100 years — steps into the future with the opening of Africa Rocks, its biggest construction project ever.

    New exhibits are more naturalistic and more focused on conservation than entertainment.

            Africa Rocks replaces Dog & Cat Canyon, which dated to the 1930s.

Six distinct habitats will feature flora and fauna from the African continent.
    There is a 65-foot waterfall people can walk behind and a 2-acre tensile metal aviary net overhead. It’s more about immersion than staring.   






  
             The space for the African penguins, an endangered species, includes giant artificial rocks like the granite ones found at Boulders Beach in South Africa. It’s why the 170-foot-long pool they swim in has a wave-making machine to mimic gentle surf rolling ashore. And it’s why there are holes that lead to nesting caves carved into some of the rocks, a way of encouraging the penguins to breed. 

 
















  They are black and white and cute all over. African 

Penguins are also known as “jackass” penguins for their donkey-like bray. They bray to attract a mate.  They yell to defend territory and haw to locate each other.

            The African penguin is only found on the south-western coast of Africa, living in colonies on 24 islands.

       

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