Honolulu Zoo

The Honolulu Zoo

August 10, 2012


There are so many amazing animals at the zoo, zebra, giraffe, rhinoceros, peacock, tortoise - just to name a few.  I had been working indoors most of the day so a walk through the zoo was just what I needed.  The zoo is open daily from 9am to 4:30pm.  Often special events and concerts will keep the gates open a bit longer (even overnighters!) 
 
The zoo has recently remodeled the front gate...with a remodeling came higher gate prices.  Luckily, I'm already a zoo member and Mom has a military ID.  Parking in the lot beside the zoo was plentiful but was $1 per hour and the ticket machine only takes coins or credit cards.  Be ready.  If you're lucky, you might find free parking on the Diamond Head side of the zoo.

sleeping aardvark

We spent most of our time in the African Savannah.  The wild dog were more active than I've ever seen them.  The meerkat were as adorable as ever.  Usually, the fennec fox is hiding from the public.  Today he was out - sleeping - but out!  We saw the back end of the aardvark, a mother peacock and two peachicks, and the new elephant enclosure is spectacular.

The zoo just lost one of the chimpanzees.  There was nice note at the chimpanzee display.  It was late afternoon when we arrived so the heat of the day had the chimp family lounging in the shade.  Lounging?  More like sprawling in funny poses and sleeping.  More than one tourist walked past and said something like, "That's you Uncle Joe!"

Three baby warthogs were running around the warthog area.  They're new to the zoo - so new they don't have names.  If you'd like to help name these cuddly piglets, the zoo is having a 'name the warthog' contest.

Those birds are so loud!  The sun conure won the prize for loudest call.  My favorite bird of the day was the tawny frogmouth and the flamingos are always eye catching.  Don't miss the nene sanctuary at the zoo.   

Mural @ the Zoo Gate

I forgot to bring the old phone books to recycle at the zoo.  They've got great animal enrichment activities that use new and recycled donations.  I've heard the chimpanzees love to tear out phone numbers.  It gives me a great reason to go back soon.

For a good walk with an educational twist, the zoo is perfect.  As the song says "it's all happening at the zoo!"

Check it out:
http://www.honoluluzoo.org/