A Great Day at the San Diego Zoo

Heather and I learned something new today - if a hippo turns it back towards you and starts swishing its tail from side to side - run! I've seen lions and tigers spray to mark territory, but nothing compares to what a hippo will do. I won't even apologize for not posting any pictures of the aftermath - believe me, you don't want to see (or smell) it.

We had the opportunity to join a friend who works at the Zoo on an informal behind-the-scenes walk this morning. I didn't get any useable pictures in the back areas of the tigers or hippos, but it was fun to see. And, I mostly got out of the way of the hippo in time - just a couple of tiny bits on my lens hood. Luckily nothing on the glass, or on us.

Our friend was one of the primary keepers for the Malayan Tigers, and the cubs Christopher and Conner recognize her voice. These were taken from the middle public viewing area. They came running down the hill as soon as they heard her call their names. Here's Conner.

Here's Christopher. You can tell them apart by the marking over their right eye.

We stopped off to see what the Jaguar cubs were up to - not much, it turns out.

We had an opportunity to feed the Giraffes. Here's Heather giving one of them a treat.

It's more difficult than you might think to get a picture of a Giraffe, they really don't stay still at all, especially when there is food involved.

We thought it might rain when we left the house this morning, but it turned into a beautiful Autumn day in San Diego. It was almost too warm.

Click here to see more pictures from our walk around the San Diego Zoo this morning.