San Diego Zoo

Last month, I spent spent my 34th birthday at the San Diego Zoo. Lucas and I had planned a five day vacation during spring break to San Diego and Joshua Tree National Park, including excursions to Salvation Mountain, SeaWorld and the Salton Sea. Needless to say, it was a non-stop adventure.

Even though I still feel somewhat conflicted about zoos, I appreciate their general conservation efforts and educational work for endangered animals. I had wanted to visit the San Diego Zoo for years so it seemed a fitting birthday experience. Plus, it’s the subject of one of my favorite songs by The Sixths, sung by Barbara Manning. I recommend listening along as you peruse the photographs (taken with my brand new camera!). The weather was beautiful and the animals were out and active which made for a very memorable birthday experience.

Birds of Paradise were plentiful. I love these so much… perhaps my second favorite flower.

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Ducks roamed freely throughout the zoo. Luke made friends with this one by offering a french fry as it perched on the fabric canopy above us.

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Flamingos!

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Meerkat!

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This is a Chinese Leopard named Java.

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Koala, sittin’ in a tree.

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11 month old Jaguar cub eatin’ some foods.

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Snoozing polar bear!

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The gorillas were extremely active… they were very fascinating to watch.

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Aw, Panda.

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 A nesting Secretary bird. So beautiful.

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This hippo was one of my favorite creatures I saw.

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Peacock and tourists. Hilarious.

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