Field trip to the zoo

A large and enthusiastic group went on a field trip to the zoo recently. We enjoyed a presentation on endangered species by zoo personnel, and then got to explore the zoo by ourselves.

The presentation featured several live animals, including a rabbit, Northern pine snake, Harris hawk, ferret, and chinchilla. We listened as the zoo staff explained where each animal lives, and told stories about how their numbers have grown and shrunk over time. Many students took pictures using their cell phones or cameras. At the end of the presentation, we were allowed to gently touch the chinchilla. We had to use just one or two fingers to stroke it, because too many hands could make the chinchilla's body overheat.

Later, we spread out around the zoo. Many of us toured the reptile house, where there were many different kinds of snakes. There was also a fake snake, which looked very realistic and startled some students. We also saw turtles, including some very big (and very old!) turtles from the Galapagos Islands. I liked the fact that the zoo put a sign in front of every animal exhibit, explaining where the animal came from. Many areas of the world were represented -- just like our students.

Another popular destination was Big Cat Country. We enjoyed seeing pumas, leopards, jaguars, and other members of the cat family. The tigers were especially exciting to watch, because they are so big and powerful.

One of the last areas we stopped was the river otters. I liked seeing how quickly they can swim. While we were there, two otters were playing (or roughhousing) very actively. They would tussle underwater, come to the surface, zip across the rocks, and then slide back into the water. I could have stayed for an hour to watch them, but it was time to go.

The trip was a good opportunity to see a special resource that is right here in our city. We are already planning more field trips for later this spring, although we will have smaller groups in the future.