This week over at Sweet Shoppe Designs they are having a challenge to discuss on your blog about your favorite zoo animal to celebrate June as Zoo Month. I really enjoy so many zoo animals. One that does stand out as a favorite, though, are the giraffes. I had one of those "life changing moments" at the Indianapolis Zoo a few years ago when I had the chance to feed a giraffe. Now when I travel, I try to stop and check out the local zoo if I can and eventually I will probably write about my visit here.
Zooreka The Game
Just wanted to share about the Cranium Zooreka
Every player gets a chance to play on every turn. With each turn each player guesses what the roll of the die will be: food, animal or shelter. If you guess correctly you get the matching card. Once you collect the correct number of food, animal and shelter cards you can trade them in for a habitat pie wedge to "build your zoo". I think studying and choosing the wedges was the most exciting to the kids. They even debated together if it was right to get another "water-related" animal because one of them already had an ocean type wedge in their zoo.
The game actually progresses along pretty well -- everyone gets a chance to win a card on every player's turn and if you collect too many food cards but still need a shelter card, no worries. You will get a chance to trade extra cards for the ones you need.
Now I will have to admit that things probably went even easier because we hadn't fully read the directions and would go in whichever direction was the better choice (because those were the rules in the game we had played earlier). If we had only gone in the one direction we would have been stopped occasionally more often by a "stormy weather" card. These cards usually have a penalty of losing one of your cards such as a food card.
I would recommend this as a fun family game -- especially if you have zoo/animal fans. Age recommendations on the game are 8-adult.
Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium: Part 5
As I look back at my photos of the lion and lioness I'm reminded about the "tricks" for taking better photos of wild (albeit captured) animals.
Make good use of your Z-O-O-M lens.
Patience is really the key. Wait. Watch. Study. Try to learn the behaviors of the animal. Sometimes I will sit for half and hour or more just studying an animal (especially if the animal is active). Even if the animal is not active, give more than a passing glance. This lion looked like he was sleeping. I waited a few minutes and he woke up (allowing me to capture this wonderful y-a-w-n).
And then he stood up and began to explore.
One hint to note: try to visit earlier in the day. Animals tend to be more active in the morning when it is not so hot outside. By the time I reached the lions it was naptime.
This is also another good reason for considering becoming a member of your local zoo. When you become a member you are supporting your zoo. Obviously, you need to check with your local program but for most that means you can visit fee free almost every day for a year.
If you can visit again tomorrow or next week admission free it allows you to take the time you need. It also allows you to follow the lead of your own little monkeys. Some children are fascinated watching an animal for 20 minutes. Others are ready to move on after 20 seconds. If you have a membership you don't need to feel the pressure to see the whole zoo today.
For parents: you can choose one animal to focus on during your visit. Learn about that animal before your visit to the zoo. Read books about that animal. After your visit, encourage your child to draw a picture about that animal. Of course, go see other animals during your visit. But when you choose an animal to focus on it helps to make your zoo visit an educational experience. You are also more likely to see your animal active if you choose ahead of time, visit the zoo in the morning, and when you arrive go directly to that animal. Think about it: If you always follow the map and see the same animals in the same order at probably the same time of day each time they will start to look the same. Mix it up a little. This will make your visits (and zoo membership) so worthwhile.
For the amateur photographer: the zoo membership will allow you the time to really learn about the behaviors of an animal. Again, visit in the morning to try to catch the animal being more active. Choose an animal or two for that day's visit. Go directly there first thing. Don't stop to see each animal on the way -- or by the time you get there it may be naptime.
Bonus of becoming a member of your local zoo: many belong to a group that will allow you to have discounts when you travel to other zoos. Not all zoos belong but you can check with your local program.
Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium: Part 4
Tame Tigers. Ok, that's a bit of a stretch. But they sure seemed in relaxed mode during my visit to the Pittsburgh Zoo. The adults rested in the grass while a baby hid in a cave-like structure between two rocks.
Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium: Part 3
Awww. A Baby.
I was lucky enough to visit after a baby elephant had been born. It was sooo cute. I also found it very interesting to watch the interactions between the other elephants and the baby. It almost appeared that when the baby was trying to nurse one of the other elephants stood between the people (us watching) and the baby. Almost becoming a privacy shield. I wondered if this is something that would happen in the wild to protect the baby and nursing mother from predators since nursing might make them vulnerable to attack.
We were really able to watch the elephants interact and drink water quite clearly. This zoo also has some very nice signs to educate about how elephants can use their strong trunks to gather food, dig and even swim under water.
If you get a chance, take a few minutes to stop and watch the elephants. As always, earlier in the morning gives you a better chance to seem them more active.
Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium : Part 2
I really enjoyed the design of the tropical forest building. That is something interesting about this zoo. Instead of animals just sitting behind glass windows and walls, the buildings and even some of the outdoor areas are really designed to entertain and educate. Almost like you are entering a "scene". I was surprised at the number of gorillas that live at this zoo. As you leave the tropical forest building there is a covered area where you can watch the gorillas playing and eating outside. What do they eat? BROCCOLI! At least they were this day.
One of the bigger ones was sitting with his back against the building while he was eating. A smaller one walked over and I was worried that we were about to see some primal aggression. Not so. The bigger one put his hand gently on the shoulder of the smaller one -- like they were buds.
If you enjoy primates, I would recommend allowing some time to watch them interact. Very interesting.
Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium : Part 1
The polar bear design of this blog makes me think of my trip to the Pittsburgh Zoo. The zoo also has an aquarium so in a way it's like getting two for the price of one admission. But more on the aquarium in a later post. I want to start with the polar bears. The exhibit is very cleverly designed with a boat that has run aground and other entertaining details. On my visit two polar bears were playing and splashing in the first tank. It was quite a show!
But the real show I wanted to see is when you walk down and get to go under one of the tanks. Walk in the door and look up. It is a see-through room underneath one of the polar bear tanks. Absolutely amazing. More on my trip to this zoo (& the aquarium) in future posts.
A special thank you to the Pittsburgh Zoo for permission to post my photos of their zoo.
