Back from the Zoo w/ lots of pics

[Giselle]

...albeit bad ones, but who cares?:p I went to the Oakland Zoo today just to grab a few pics of the animals (went to the SF Zoo last week and forgot my camera so I felt incredibly gypped :-P).

Let's start off with the flamingos:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/LSophie/IMG_2091.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/LSophie/IMG_2092.jpg

Next are the Sun Bears. And why not have a little enviornment lesson while we're at it. Currently, Sun Bears are being farmed and hunted for their fur and organs (organs are used in Chinese medicine *sighs*). I believe they're not yet endangered, but vulnerable.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/LSophie/IMG_2099.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/LSophie/IMG_2100.jpg

Next are my personal favorites...... Blue and Gold Macaws!!! I believe these guys are currently at Lower Risk, but I know they're thriving in the pet population (as are Greenwinged Macaws):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/LSophie/IMG_2102.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/LSophie/IMG_2105.jpg
More Macaw pics-
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/LSophie/IMG_2103.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/LSophie/IMG_2104.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/LSophie/IMG_2115.jpg

Next are the elusive Bengal Tigers. I believe we all know the gloom story behind these majestic creatures :( Currently, Bengal Tigers are Endangered and considered at the brink of extinction by many. Habitat destruction and poaching (for fur and medicinal reasons) have greatly decreased the Tiger population.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/LSophie/IMG_2119.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/LSophie/IMG_2123.jpg
ACK! These Tiger pictures are really bad!!! :p

More in the next post...

[Giselle]

And Welcome to the African Savannah! :)

First are the Giraffes. These long-legged beauties are thriving in the limited amount of habitat preserved for them and are considered Lower Risk.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/LSophie/IMG_2128.jpg

Another of my favorites (Gee, I wonder why?), are the graceful, elegant Gazelles!!! :D Love the name, guys! I just checked the Oakland Zoo's website, and apparently, there are five subspecies of the Dama Gazelle. Two of these five subspecies are already extinct (:() and one subspecies is seriously endangered.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/LSophie/IMG_2134.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/LSophie/IMG_2129.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/LSophie/IMG_2138.jpg
More Dama Gazelle pics-
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/LSophie/IMG_2132.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/LSophie/IMG_2136.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/LSophie/IMG_2135.jpg

And in the same enclosure were the -uhhh- forgotitsname and Crowned Pheasant:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/LSophie/IMG_2133.jpg

More in the next post...

[Giselle]

Lastly, we have a multitude of exotic birds.

Here are Fischer's Lovebirds (not to be confused with Masked Lovebirds). I think Fischer's Lovebirds are considered either Stable or Lower Risk and are certainly thriving as pets:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/LSophie/IMG_2141.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/LSophie/IMG_2146.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/LSophie/IMG_2147.jpg

I forgot the name to this bird. Urgh. Maybe an enthusiast will recognize it? I think it's some type of hornbill:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/LSophie/IMG_2143.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/LSophie/IMG_2144.jpg

And some kind of duck :p
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/LSophie/IMG_2145.jpg

And here's a nice shot of the waterfall in the flamingo enclosure...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/LSophie/IMG_2093.jpg
(It's very large)

Hope you enjoy and I guess I couldn't go to sleep with a clear conscience unless I say, please, folks, spare a dime or nickel or your own time for these creatures so that generations after ours can enjoy them as we do :) Thanks for reading :-)!

[QueenChyna]

oh my gosh, those tigers are so cute! I wish I could go to the zoo, especially a nice one like that! what city is this zoo in? just wondering. the flamingos look so cool!!!:D

[gemini9961]

Originally posted by QueenChyna
oh my gosh, those tigers are so cute! I wish I could go to the zoo, especially a nice one like that! what city is this zoo in? just wondering. the flamingos look so cool!!!:D

Oakland...it was at the very top of the first post. :p Those are great pics and thanks for the reminder of how endangered some of these animals are.

[cocker_luva]

man i havent been to the zoo in 7 years, that is like a crime or something. ;) :rolleyes: :D

[QueenChyna]

oh ok sorry, i guess i missed it! hehe:p those pictures are so awesome!:D