At the Zoo

On the weekend before last, JoAnna and I walked around Madison's Vilas Park Zoo while Eddie waited for the start of the annual Jingle Bell Run fundraiser for the Arthritis Foundation. I brought my camera along and took pictures of whatever moved. It wasn't much: 2 polar bears, a buffalo, a grizzly bear, and a group of penguins.

As you can see, I was particularly entranced with a rather hammy polar pear.

According to the Zoo's website, [o]n June 30, 1904, Col. William F. and Anna M. Vilas gave a large tract of land to the Madison Park and Pleasure Drive Association "for the uses and purposes of a public park and pleasure ground." From 1905 through 1910, the Vilas family donated an additional $42,000 for improvements, and public donations of $10,000 were raised for the enlargement and improvement of the park. The park was named in memory of the Vilas' son, Henry, who died at a young age due to complications from diabetes. In 1911, the first animal exhibits were created, representing the start of the Henry Vilas Zoo. More history here.

In a Philadelphia Zoo online activity, the polar bear currently ranks 6th in popularity, well behind the pygmy marmoset and vampire bat, I'm sorry to report.

Children should not click on this site unsupervised.

The oldest polar bear, certified by World Records Academy, lived in the Winnepeg Zoo. "Debby" died last month at the age of 42.

Sarah Palin has opinions on polar bears. Perhaps you'd be interested in reading them.

Yeah, guy, I'm relieved she's not the incoming VP, too.

It is estimated that there was once 60 million buffalos in North America. According to the National Bison Association, there are only 350,000 buffalos in North America today. You can read about the decline here.

A grizzly bear does the Buffalo Stance. (And a chance for me to share my favorite Nenah Cherry song.)

Penguins use their beaks for many purposes.

• Catching food.
• Holding onto the slippery fish they catch under water.
• Carrying materials for nest building.
• Feeding their young.
• Preening their feathers and spreading the oil to keep them waterproof. (Looks like that's what's being done in the picture above.)
• Protecting themselves and their young.
  

Penguins are social animals. They travel, feed, breed, nest, and winter in large groups. (These guys, unfortunately, won't be doing much traveling.)

Penguins are serial monogamists.