Wildlife Safari Photography

Giraffe - A Handy Tongue

2009-07-05T18:01:00.000-07:00

Giraffe's have long and evidently strong tongues. This one was breaking pieces of a stick off with his tongue before eating them.

White Fallow Deer

2009-06-21T11:01:00.000-07:00

Some of these deer have awesome racks.

Fear and Frustration - Camera Critters

2009-06-13T00:26:00.000-07:00

It looks like just a small wire fence separating the lion and the nilgai but the nilgai really aren't in any danger. They did look a little jumpy though :) It must be frustrating for the lion so see them so close but so far out of reach. There is a very lion-proof fence and more distance than it seems between them.

Be sure to check out other Camera Critters here

Pretty Baby - Zebra Style

2009-06-10T19:25:00.000-07:00

Aren't babies wonderful? Species doesn't matter. I gave this beauty a little of a "glamour glow" treatment. Not that she wasn't beautiful before, its just fun to play with filters sometimes.

Barbary Sheep

2009-06-08T00:38:00.000-07:00

I know he looks more like a mountain goat than a sheep but he really is. His other name is aoudad.

The Barbary Sheep is native to North Africa and is still located in very isolated mountainous areas there, but it was introduced to the United States in the early 1900s, at first only raised in zoos and private sanctuaries. In 1950, the first animals were released into the wild, and they settled in to New Mexico. More were released in Texas around 1957, where they continue to thrive. Currently, there are large populations of Barbary Sheep found in Spain, California, Texas, and New Mexico, but they are harder to find in their native Sahara Desert. Barbary Sheep are indigenous to dry mountain ranges, usually deep in the desert. They are extremely agile, jumping from stone to stone and climbing steep inclines.

Where's Waldo - Camera Critters

2009-06-05T09:52:00.000-07:00

The male rhea sits on the eggs and raises the babies. Its hard to see the baby tucked safely into the papa rhea's feathers.

Be sure to check out other Camera Critters here

Sleeping Kitty

2009-06-02T19:07:00.000-07:00

Bear Play

2009-06-01T21:29:00.000-07:00

The young brown bears at the Wildlife Safari are usually quite active.

They are much more fun to watch than the older ones... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Bear Hug

2009-05-30T23:01:00.001-07:00

Weird hair Day

2009-02-02T18:49:00.001-08:00

Roosevelt Elk

2008-10-14T23:50:00.001-07:00

Funny Face - Llama

2008-10-04T21:32:00.000-07:00

Llamas are such adorable critters.

Sarus Crane

2008-09-28T19:46:00.001-07:00

The sarus crane is the world's tallest flying bird. An adult male may stand up to six feet tall. The bare skin on the head and neck changes in color and intensity with the bird’s mood, providing another way for the cranes to communicate. These canes are very powerful fliers, and are most often seen flying in a line or V-formation. They are very hardy birds, able to survive severe winters.

Sarus cranes are the only resident breeding cranes in India and Southeast Asia. In many regions, especially areas dominated by the Hindu religion, local traditions and religious beliefs have protected the sarus crane. To the natives of India, the Sarus Crane is a symbol of a happy marriage. Crane pairs perform elaborate courtship dances, combining leaping, bowing, prancing, and calling in duet.

Despite protections the sarus crane is suffering a rapid population decline. Loss and degradation of wetlands due to agricultural expansion, industrial expansion, and pollutants continually threaten the survival of the sarus crane.

George - A meeting of the minds

2008-09-27T10:16:00.000-07:00

This is George. He was born in Africa. This encounter was one of the reasons I first fell in love with the animals at Wildlife Safari. It was an emotional few minutes, at least from my perspective. I had stopped to look at him and was struck by the fact that he was not only looking at me too, but looking straight into my eyes. I can't explain the feeling. I got the impression of a wise, but sad, old man who had something to tell me.. who needed me to understand.

I get goosebumps again just writing about it.

I was so touched by this encounter that I went home and attempted to write down what I felt.

George…

Look at me
he whispered silently
not with words
but with his eyes

see me…
please…
he drew me in
I couldn’t pass him by

What might he have to say?

he looked at me with eyes
that could see into my soul
listen to me, he pleaded
let me show you what I know

he held me captive with wizened eyes
chains as strong as the iron bars between us

he spoke to me of freedom
he showed me carefree days
spent on dusty plains…
watering holes…torrid rain

I felt the elation
of running with the herd

as he spoke to me of yearning
I began to understand
that he was home…
yet his spirit longed
for things that might have been

hear me, he spoke silently
please…. just know who I am.

I'm Featured!

2008-09-23T23:20:00.000-07:00

Got an email from KATU News in Portland, Oregon asking if they could feature this blog on their website. Of course I said yes :) Check it out quick, it might be gone tomorrow.

Check it out here

Thanks Shannon

Brown Bear

2008-09-23T20:37:00.000-07:00

There are three older, larger brown bears and three young brown bears at the Safari. This is one of the older bears.

Just a Little Lion Lick

2008-09-20T01:16:00.000-07:00

We used to be able to drive through the lion area and the lions were free to roam within that area. Of course we had to have the windows up but could still get some good shots of them through the glass. Now there is a fence between the area where we drive and where the cats live so there will be no more good close-ups of the lions. I'm sure this is for the benefit of the animals and they still have a large area where they can roam but I'm going to miss getting the good photos of them.

Updated Update

2008-09-11T18:14:00.001-07:00

Still don't have my computer. Check out
my other blog for a detailed update

2008-09-03T19:51:00.000-07:00

I've had a computer crash. This one is just barely moving now. I've ordered a new one and it should be here about Sept 10-12. See you then :)

Being Different - Black Buck

2008-08-27T22:17:00.000-07:00

I really like this little black buck. She is different from all the others both in shape and color. The others are very sleek and slim and none of the others have this white on their facs.

This one has come up to the car and let me pet her twice. The first time it was pouring rain out and she pressed up against the car to get warm I think. I LOVE when an animal lets me touch them.

If you click on the Black Buck link below you can see what the normal animal looks like.

Tug-of-War, Bear Style

2008-08-24T16:59:00.000-07:00

These young bears were playing tug-of-war with a bone today.

Strange Goose

2008-08-22T23:35:00.000-07:00

Doesn't he look like he has two beaks? One wide open and another one inside.

Artsy Flamingo

2008-08-19T21:21:00.000-07:00

There birds are pretty enough without doing extra artsy things on them but sometimes I just can't resist.

Don't look at me. I didn't do it!

2008-08-16T18:14:00.000-07:00

Size Doesn't Matter

2008-08-14T22:04:00.000-07:00

Friends come in all sizes