SAN DIEGO ZOO

The San Diego Zoo is located in Balboa Park.  

• Began with a collection of animals left over from the 1915 Panama-California Exposition, but officially in 1921.

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  Frank Buck became director in 1923, but left after three months, and returned to animal collecting.  Belle Benchley became executive secretary, then zoo director from 1925 to 1953, quite a feat, for she was around the only female in this leading role throughout the world
• Zoo began as a pioneer, featuring open-air and cageless animals in their natural habitat.

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  Sits on 100 acres, with more than 700,000 exotic plants, now housing 12,000 animals of more than 680 species.  In comparison, the Honolulu Zoo has 1230 animals and more than 900 species. 

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  40 varieties of bamboo for their pandas, and 18 of eucalyptus trees to feed its pandas.
• There are now two pandas on exhibit.  Read about this history, for in the past several pandas were born here, and sent back to China.

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  There are five Masai giraffes, including two calves born this year, Subeera and Matope.
• There are over 40 species in the Polar Bear Plunge.
• Was free for children into the 60s.  Now costs $72 for adults and $65 for children.  If you're old, you might get by for the children's price.
• Has the largest number of koalas outside of Australia.
• Ken Allen, a Bornean orangutan, succeeded in many escapes.
• In 1982, the California Condor population dropped to 22.
• Thus zoo began a management program, and now the population in the state is over 200.
• There are tours and an overhead gondola lift called the Skyfari.

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  There is also the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, a nearly 2000[acre park located 30 miles northeast of thee zoo.
• Is it the best zoo in the world.  I'll provide my opinion at the end of this posting.
• Want more details?

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  Panda diplomacy – The practice of using pandas as diplomatic tools
• Balboa Park – The park where the San Diego Zoo is located
• San Diego Zoo Global – The organization overseeing the zoo and its conservation efforts.

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  Nola – A northern white rhinoceroswho passed away a decade ago.
• Bai Yun – A giant panda formerly housed at the San Diego Zoo

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  Gao Gao – A giant panda, part of the zoo's breeding program
• Hua Mei – The first giant panda cub born in the United States

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  Mei Sheng – A male giant panda born at the zoo
• Shi Shi (giant panda) – A giant panda lent to the zoo as part of a conservation exchange.

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  Su Lin (giant panda, born 2005) – A female panda born at the zoo
• Zhen Zhen – A female panda born at the zoo
• Xiao Liwu – The youngest panda born at the zoo before the panda program ended.

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  Ken Allen – A famous orangutan known for his escape artistry
• Karen (orangutan) – An orangutan famous for undergoing open-heart surgery
• Karta (orangutan) – An orangutan from the Adelaide Zoo, mother of celebrity orangutan Karen (orangutan)

So with that a few photos and videos of our zoo visit yesterday, which began with the Hop On&Off tram, which should have cost $55/person, but we paid $65 because it was a busy day.

The tram took us on a tour on San Diego.  The whole loop is 25 miles long, and the Marriott Marquis is one of 11 stops.  A new one arrives within 20 minutes.

We dropped of at Balboa Park, and had to walk at least half a mile.  Some sights.

There are 18 museums in the park.  Below the Mingei International Museum.

San Diego Museum of Art.

After twenty minutes, we made it to the San Diego Zoo.

A couple of plants.

There is a free guided bus tour of half an hour to 45 minutes.  I sat on the wrong side, so took another tour on the right side.  Big mistake, for this bus had a problem which I won't get into, and this ride went on for more than hour.  Worse, this one had screaming children, and the sun was in my face for most of the ride.

Did not see much from the bus.

California Condor.

Some videos.

So where does the San Diego Zoo rank?  I'm now too old to walk around much.  We would have seen pandas, capybaras and a lot more if we took the 4-6 hour walk of 2 miles or so.  Go if you can walk for five hours.  I guess my zoo days are over.

Caught a taxi from the zoo back to the Balboa Park Tram stop.  Rolled by the aircraft carrier Midway, which is now a museum.

View of Grand Hyatt to the right, and the twin towers of the Marriott Marquis.

A pond in front of the Marriott Marquis.

Scotch and snacks at the M Club.

Had nine hours of sleep the first night, and again last night.  Checked my pedometer.

Actually, that total is from Honolulu to San Diego at the end of day yesterday, after the zoo. The first day accounted for 3604 steps.  Thus ,on zoo day, I walked 8335 steps, around 4 miles.

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