OK..so it's not Africa, but it's all I can afford right now (photos of meerkats and more)
 

So until I can afford my next trip to Africa, the next best thing is a day at the San Diego Zoo. Here are some of my favorite photos, hope you like them.

I was the first one in the park and hauled butt to the panda exhibit. I had them all to myself for the first 10 minutes and it was the first time I saw them awake. It was so wonderful.

The meerkats I sat and watched for at least an hour. What a kick they are!

I stumbled by accident across the "feed the giraffe" session. So funny to watch if you ever get the opportunity.

We are fortunate to have such a wonderful zoo so close by. It will have to pacify me until my next trip.

Sorry, I always forget to add the attachment! What a dufus.


www.kodakgallery.com/carlasadventures

A <b>fabulous</b> set of pictures, Carla - thanks I really enjoyed looking at them!

I have good memories of the San Diego Zoo when last there a LONG time ago in 1990. I really must make a point of going back again soon!

We had the pleasure of being on a cruise to Australia and Indonesia with Joan Emery (Embry? can't remember now!) from the San Diego Zoo/Johny Carson fame as a lecturer. She signed on at the last moment when we had a port change to go to Komodo - her dream she said was to see the komodos in their natural habitat. She gave some intersting lectures on the animals on board actually

Loved your pictures of the meerkats - they are so cute! (Timone if I reall right??)

really enjoyed your pictures, i'm a SD zoo member and made 2 trips to night time zoo this summer. the baby panda seems to love hanging out in that tree. So lucky to see the polar bear in the water, i have not seen them &quot;plunge&quot; in a long time. and 2 tigers, wow. the last time i went it was during that really hot spell and the tiger was pacing back and forth up toward the upper part of the enclosure and did not seem very happy. loved the meerkats.

what camera are you using? Your pictures are so clear and beautiful. we're taking our first trip to Africa the end of Nov 06 and i'm very close to upgrading my camera. you gave me a wonderful idea of practicing at the zoo when i get the new camera.

HI Carla,
FANTASTIC pictures!!! I recognise 'some' of the species but if it's not too much trouble can you post what all of them are (in order if possible) so that you can educate me on the rest (monkey species in particular and the antelope with striped legs and the dark one that reminds me a little of an Oryx)??

Thanks,

Imelda

Thanks! Imelda I went back and put captions on all but 2 that I can't recall what they were, but I will be going back in a couple weeks and will take better notes and let you know. (or if anyone here knows what they are please let me know).

Joey, I am using the Canon IS S2. I bought it before my Africa trip last year(Nov) and it has been great. Where are you off to?

Lynda, glad you liked the meerkats, they are adorable and so fun to watch! I try to watch Meerkat Manor on Animal Planet when I think about it.

i am going to Kenya late Nov of this year. My sister in law and her family moved to Nairobi last sept, so it's an excuse to visit and go on safari. i didn't realize i would get so absorbed in it.

glad to hear you are using a Canon S2, your photos are so clear. i bought the S3 this week and have been playing with it all week. just came from the beach and took a few shots at the cove. must get a zoo trip in soon as i think that will be great practice.

Joey,
Be sure to practice with the &quot;video/sound&quot; and &quot;continuous shot&quot; programs with your camera before your safari. It's such a great feature and you will love it when you return home.

GREAT pics!

The one you have labelled as a white rhino (near the beginning) is, I believe, an Asian rhino - I'm not well enough versed in these species to recognise whether it's the Sumatran, Javan or Indian rhino though. But I don't think it's the (African-based) white rhino.

Oddly enough, a friend of mine has just launched a project to raise money for the conservation of the various species of rhinos. It'll be processed through the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation but will organise it's own fundraising activities and earmark the moneys for various rhino projects.

I've volunteered to create the website for it so when that's up and running I'll let you know more.

Anyway, thanks again for sharing the pics - really nice!

Thanks Kavey.
I will take my notepad next time to the zoo (hopefully next week) and get some better details. I'm trying to check out your meerkat photos also but they have me blocked here at work (internet prison!) so I will check them tonight from home.

Instead of taking your notepad, if you're shooting digital, just include a picture of the information panel by each animal's encloser - that will have all the info you need!

I have been twice to Kew Gardens this year and taken some plant shots I'm so delighted with. I tried to take shots of the plant identity plaques but sometimes I simply couldn't find one for a given plant and now I'm struggling to identify several shots!

Thanks Kavey for the great tip. That is so simple.

Got to finally check out your Meerkat photos, they are great! The one looks like he's got his winter coat, he's so hairy. I love these little guys.

BTW since you mentioned it, any advice or recommendations how to build a website for beginner.

The meerkats were adorable. I was really checking out those photogenic pandas too.

I got a chuckle out of &quot;your picture&quot; also that appeared on one of the albums, from when we all posted photos of ourselves.