Animals In The Zoo

Next stop: The Zoo (though mostly because it was the only attraction that opened at 9am).

The 'World Famous' San Diego Zoo is home to 3600 animals representing 800-plus species and has been a pioneer in building 'cageless' exhibits. These are often designed around a particular habitat, with the same exhibit featuring many different animals that can be found side-by-side in the wild, along with native plant life.  Many exhibits are 'natural' with invisible wires and darkened blinds (to view birds), or pools and open-air moats for large mammals.

The zoo was also incredibly hilly, but they do offer a guided bus that traverses 75% of the park (a relief when 7-months pregnant), as well as an overhead gondola lift called the Skyfari.

The newer enclosures in the zoo, like the Elephant Odyssey, were very very nice, but some of the older bits were right scabby, I thought anyway. And because the bus drove around it wasn't quite as people friendly I don't think as some of the other zoos we've been too, but it was a nice day out and the kids enjoyed it.

Anyway, as of July 2011, the San Diego Zoo is one of only four zoos in the US which have giant pandas on display, and is the most successful in terms of panda reproduction.  The first two giant panda cubs in US history to have been born in the US and survive into adulthood, Hua Mei and Mei Sheng, were born at the San Diego zoo in 1999 and 2003 respectively. Since then, four more giant panda cubs have been born to the resident giant panda parents, Bai Yun and Gao Gao.  All these American-born cubs except one have been sent back to China to participate in the breeding programme there.

These giant pandas are viewable live through a panda cam, should you desire, though we did manage to sneak one, Diego, home to send to our newest little nephew/cousin.