Elephant Odyssey

Elephant Odyssey, the blockbuster $44 million 7 acre project is well underway. This area will house elephants, lions and jaguars. The area represents 10% of the zoo area and is expected to take a total of 18 months to complete. The picture was taken Saturday, March 22nd, from overhead in the sky ride.   Opening is expected in the Spring of 2009.

San Diego Zoo Entrance

Everyone enjoys a visit to the San Diego Zoo.  The picture above shows the area just inside the entrance, a favorite gathering place, as seen from the skyride.  Below is a picture of Sammy and Ria, the resident blue Hyacent McCaws in the childrens zoo.

 

Border Crossing

“Border Crossing, Cruzando El Rio Bravo, 1989 (Luis Jimeney, 1940-2006), located downtown between America Plaza and the Santa Fe Depot.

Smitty

Keeper Scott Morford with Smitty

Keeper Scott Morford tooks us into the elephant barn this morning at the San Diego Zoo. Three asian elephants are kept here. The zoo is building a new elephant exhibit and will move these three as well as five from the Wild Animal Park into the new enclosure sometime during the spring 2009.

Sumithi, or Smitty, as she is affectionately called, is 39 years old, weighs 9,075 pounds and is the matriarch of the group. She came to the San Diego Zoo in 1968 from the island of Sri Lanka. The first picture was taken from inside the elephant barn and shows Smitty with her trunk up while opening her mouth. The second picture was taken as we were leaving showing her from the side with her interest still focused inside the barn.

Stephanie Bruns took our group on the stroll this morning. She works in the education department at the San Diego Zoo.

Springbuck at the San Diego Zoo

 

Point Loma on Mother’s Day