When I was in Ohio last month for the Ohio LinuxFest I added a day on to my trip to visit the Columbus Zoo. A world-class zoo, it’s one of the few northern state zoos that has manatees and their African savanna exhibit is worth visiting. I went with a couple friends I attended the conference with, one of whom was a local and offered to drive (thanks again Svetlana!).
We arrived mid-day, which was in time to see their cheetah run, where they give one of their cheetahs some exercise by having it run a quick course around what had just been moments before the hyena habitat. I also learned recently via ZooBorns that the Columbus Zoo is one that participates in the cheetah-puppy pairing from a young age. The dogs keep these big cats feeling secure with their calmness in an uncertain world, adorable article from the site here: A Cheetah and His Dog
Much to my delight, they were also selling Cheetah-and-Dog pins after the run to raise money. Yes, please!
As I said, I really enjoyed their African Savanna exhibit. It was big and sprawling and had a nice mixture of animals. The piles of lions they have was also quite the sight to behold.
Their kangaroo enclosure was open to walk through, so you could get quite close to the kangaroos just like I did at the Perth Zoo. There were also a trio of baby tigers and some mountain lions that were adorable. And then there were the manatees. I love manatees!
I’m really glad I took the time to stay longer in Columbus, I’d likely go again if I found myself in the area.
More photos from the zoo, including a tiger napping on his back, and those mountain lions here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/pleia2/albums/72157671610835663
Just a couple weeks later I found myself on another continent, and at the Barcelona Aquarium with my friends Julia and Summer. It was a sizable aquarium and really nicely laid out. Their selection of aquatic animals was diverse and interesting. In this aquarium I liked some of the smallest critters the most. Loved their seahorses.
And the axolotls.
There was also an octopus that was awake and wandering around the tank, much to the delight of the crowd.
They also had penguins, a great shark tube and tank with a moving walkway.
More photos from the Barcelona Aquarium: https://www.flickr.com/photos/pleia2/albums/72157675629122655
Barcelona also has a zoo, but in my limited time there in the city I didn’t make it over there. It’s now on my very long list of other things to see the next time I’m in Barcelona, and you bet there will be a next time.