San Diego Zoo, San Diego, CA

Your blogger’s family at the entrance the San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park in San Diego, California, USA — a pioneer in the concept of open-air, cageless exhibits that recreate natural animal habitats and cited as one of the best zoos in the world

“An urban paradise for all ages, the San Diego Zoo is a must-see [attraction] in Southern California.  Winding paths through the tropical oasis of a botanical garden bring you to more than 4,000 rare and fascinating animals, including koalas, Galápagos tortoises, leopards, roaming peacocks, and more.  Explore Africa Rocks to discover penguins, baboons, the mysterious fossa, weaver birds, and others unique creatures.  The festive, lively atmosphere makes the San Diego Zoo a great place for family fun and gathering friends.  Discover the wonders of wildlife with animal encounters, interactive experiences, and exciting animal presentations and shows.  A leader in animal care and conservation, the San Diego Zoo is at the heart of the San Diego experience.” — www.sandiego.org

“The San Diego Zoo was a pioneer in the concept of open-air, cageless exhibits that recreate natural animal habitats.  For decades, the zoo housed and successfully bred giant pandas, though the pandas were repatriated to China in 2019.  With more than 4 million visitors in 2018, San Diego Zoo is the most visited zoo in the United States. Travelers have also cited it as one of the best zoos in the world.  The San Diego Zoo is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA).  The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance also operates the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.” — Wikipedia

Flamingos near the entrance to the San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park, San Diego, California, USA

Malayan tigers are native to Peninsular Malaysia; the San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park, San Diego, California, USA

The Malayan tiger is a tiger from a specific population of the Panthera tigris tigris subspecies that is native to Peninsular Malaysia.  This population inhabits the southern and central parts of the Malay Peninsula and has been classified as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List since 2015.  As of April 2014, the population was estimated at 80 to 120 mature individuals with a continuous declining trend.  The Malayan tiger is the national animal of Malaysia.” – Wikipedia

Polar bears at the San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park, San Diego, California, USA

A close-up of a polar bear at the San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park, San Diego, California, USA

A leopard at the San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park, San Diego, California, USA

“Exhibits at the zoo are often designed around a particular habitat.  The same exhibit may feature many different animals that can be found side by side in the wild, along with native plant life. Exhibits range from an African rain forest (featuring gorillas) to the Arctic taiga and tundra in the summertime (featuring polar bears).  Some of the largest free-flight aviaries in existence are here, including the Owens Aviary and the Scripps Aviary.  Many exhibits are “natural”, with invisible wires and darkened blinds (to view birds), and accessible pools and open-air moats (for large mammals).” — Wikipedia

The San Diego downtown skyline as see from an arial gondola on the “Skyfari” at the San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park, San Diego, California, USA

A Southwest Airlines airplane coming in for a landing at the San Diego Airport seen flying over Balboa Park from “Skyfari” at the San Diego Zoo, San Diego, California, US

One of many koalas in the Australian Outback area, nicknamed “Koalafornia”, at the San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park, San Diego, California, USA

A new Australian Outback area, nicknamed “Koalafornia”, opened in May 2013.  The San Diego Zoo has the largest koala colony outside of Australia.  It has twice as much exhibit space for koalas, including more outdoor enclosures based on a realization that koalas need sun exposure for their health. The new area includes other Australian marsupials, such as wombats, Goodfellow’s tree-kangaroos, ringrail possums, wallabies and Australian birds, such as kookaburras, blue-faced honeyeaters, masked lapwings, Gouldian finches, and palm cockatoos.  Even the short-beaked echidnas are housed there, even though they are considered monotremes.  Since October 2013, the exhibit also houses Tasmanian devils, the first American zoo to do so; the animals are now kept in half a dozen zoos in the Americas as part of the Australian government’s Save the Tasmanian Devil Program. – Wikipedia

A violet-backed starling (cinnyricinclus leucogaster) found in the open woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa and a white-fronted bee-eater (Merops bullockoides) found in the woodlands in central and eastern Africa; the San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park, San Diego, California, USA

“[The San Diego Zoo’s] parent organization, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, is a private nonprofit conservation organization, and has one of the largest zoological membership associations in the world, with more than 250,000 member households and 130,000 child memberships, representing more than a half million people.” – Wikipedia

“San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is an international, nonprofit conservation organization with two front doors.  We integrate wildlife health and care, science, and education to develop sustainable conservation solutions.  Conservation is at the heart of everything we do. And it starts with that connection we make with people and wildlife every day. Because when wildlife thrives, all life thrives.” – www.sandiegozoowildlifealliance.org 

Penguins from South Africa (near Cape Town) at the San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park, San Diego, California, USA

A black-tipped shark in one of several ponds/fish tanks at the San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park, San Diego, California, USA

The Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) is an endangered species found on the Indian subcontinent; the San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park, San Diego, California, USA

“The Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis), also called the Indian rhino, greater one-horned rhinoceros or great Indian rhinoceros, is a rhinoceros species native to the Indian subcontinent.  It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, as populations are fragmented and restricted to less than 20,000 km² (7,700 sq mi).  Moreover, the extent and quality of the rhino’s most important habitat, the alluvial Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands and riverine forest, is considered to be in decline due to human and livestock encroachment.  As of August 2018, the global population was estimated to comprise 3,588 individuals.” – Wikipedia

Native to East Africa, The Masai giraffe (Giraffa tippelskirchi) is the largest species of giraffe; the San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park, San Diego, California, USA

“The Masai giraffe (Giraffa tippelskirchi), also spelled Maasai giraffe, also called Kilimanjaro giraffe, is the largest species of giraffe.  It is native to East Africa.  The Masai giraffe can be found in central and southern Kenya and in Tanzania.  It has distinctive, irregular, jagged, star-like blotches that extend to the hooves.” — Wikipedia

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