The Maryland Zoo, Baltimore

We visited the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore on Presidents Day. The place was more crowded than we were expecting, but the nice (for February) weather and the cheap winter tickets probably contributed to the turn out, along with the holiday.

Right by the entrance is a playground (much like any other playground in Maryland, no need to pay to use this one) and a statue dedicated to otters.

The first animals we saw were not very lively

Before getting down to the zoo proper, we saw the prairie dog exhibit, an outdoor field full of cute little rodents. They make a yelping sound and have a fun way of popping up and down.

Prairie for the dogs

Cutie close up

On the way down to the other animal exhibits, many of the original cages and displays still stand. The zoo was built in the 1870s, so it is amazing that a lot of the original structures are extant.

The old cages from the Victorian era

The first exhibit we saw was the penguins, who were being fed. They spent most of their time eating while a zoo keeper told us a lot of information over loudspeakers. The keeper was standing with the patrons so we were able to ask some questions. She told us how the penguins are shaped a bit like torpedoes so they move quickly through the water. Their feet are optimized for swimming, so they are more awkward on land. Sometimes, while swimming, they pop out of the water (called "porpoising") to get a breath of air.

Penguins feeding

Penguins swimming

Penguins popping up like prairie dogs of the sea

The penguin habitat includes two storks who were not very interested in what was going on.

He's looking at the feeding, so maybe he's wondering when it is his turn?

Showing off big wings

The sitatunga is a central African swamp antelope that has big hoofs to keep it from sinking in to soft earth. They were hanging out on the far side of their pen. 

Sitatunga

Across the way from them is a pond full of Caribbean Flamingos. They were digging through the mud with their bills, looking for some snacks.

Flamingos

Much drier and much larger are the animals in the next exhibit--ostriches. They are the largest birds extant and can run at speeds up to 40 miles per hour and have a powerful kick. They don't bury their heads in the sand, though they might bury their feet in their persecutors!

Good thing the log is between us and them!

Much faster, of course, is the cheeta, who can speed up to 70 miles per hour. This cheeta was either shy or indifferent to its many visitors. Or maybe it was hoping to run into a sitatunga along the back wall.

Or maybe searching for a way out?

African elephants are the largest land animals in the world. With such bulk, how are they so cute and charming? 

African elephant

View of the other side

Caught in the act

Eating a snack

The giraffes, the tallest animals on the planet, were also shy. Only one was out in the paddock and it never stood in any spot that was good for getting a photo.

Facing the wrong way

This one was my fault, should have click a moment sooner

Over on lemur lane, we saw a monkey hanging out in an overhead tunnel. The colobus monkey mostly stays in the trees, eating fruit and leaves.

Monkeying around?

More like napping

The red ruffed lemurs were more active, but not by much.

Red ruffed lemurs

In the monkey house, the red-tailed guenons were moving all over the place, making it hard to get a good shot of any one in particular.

Some distinctive coloring for sure

A cute face

The chimpanzees were more active, climbing around their area with ease and grace (and the occasional blanket!). Some were not as active as others.

Hanging from the ceiling with a blanket

Hanging on the ground with a blanket

Over at the window

A few of the outdoor exhibits were interactive, like an area to walk like a chimp or ride on a tortoise.

Not as easy as it looks

A slow ride

The African slender-snouted crocodile is an endangered species, though from the looks of him he is not worried about it. He was placed in a habitat with a turtle, who I assume is immune from being eaten because of his shell.

African slender-snouted crocodile

An indoor cave exhibit featured the Eastern Hellbender. The Hellbender is the largest salamander in North America, living mostly in Appalachia. The name's origin is murky, though people assume it is because it is very unattractive. It likes to hide between rocks in shallow water and eats other, smaller animals. 

Eastern Hellbender!

The cave exhibit also has a bunch of snakes behind glass. These two rattlesnakes don't look very dangerous curled up as they are.

Rattlesnakes!

Outside of the cave exhibit is the otters, who swim so fast they don't make attractive pictures either. The otter habitat includes a tunnel for humans under the water where they can see the swimming from below!

It's an otter, really!

The zoo was a fun place to visit, even in the winter.