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| No feathers? No fur? Then you'll find what you're looking for here.
Since this covers a lot of territory, we've more-or-less arranged it by biggest
to smallest. (Click on the thumbnails to view full size!) |
No
contest here! Elephants rule where size is concerned.
There are two at
the zoo. |
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Say
hello to Rupa. She was born in Savala, India, in 1975. Previously, she's lived
at the Basel and Copenhagen Zoos. The Zoo's other elephant, Radja, was born in
1968, also in Savala. It seems he developed a bit of temper as a young circus
star and was put out to pasture in early 1970 and has been living the zoo life
ever since. |
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Elephants may be big, but hippos are
wi-i-i-i-i-de! |
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This
big alligator doesn't seem to mind the heat. Sadly, he's still living in an old
exhibit... |
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...not much more than shallow concrete pool. As the zoo's patriarch
(here since 1935!) he deserves better!
We were overjoyed
to hear from Guna that the Zoo's oldest inhabitant, and perhaps the oldest
alligator in captivity, who turns 67 this year, has moved to a brand new
exhibit in the Tropical House! And, yes, you do use all the s's and
p's: alligator mississippiensis
Cabulitis, as he was named, died August 21, 2007 |
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This
poor snake is in a plain old tub, just trying to stay cool, hoping for a
corporate sponsor... the old and new exhibits are worlds apart.
Fortunately, as the good news about our alligator friend
demonstrates, progress is being made! |
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Pink bare flesh, that would be...
wait, hold
on!
Kids can go on a camel ride for one lat. |
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There's actually quite a good collection of smaller
reptiles... |
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...they've been able to benefit from more natural
surroundings. |
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These tree frogs can stick to just about anything! |
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There's even an
aquarium! |
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On the grand
scale of things, these fellows are the smallest.
Then again, there are
the ants! |
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There's a lot more to see and do than we've been able to show
here, especially the exhibit halls -- like a complete state-of-the-art rain
forest, complete with gum trees! Or the leaf cutter ant exhibit, complete with
leaves, branches, and the ant colony in cutaway view in plexiglas. If you find
yourself in Riga, you definitely should make the Zoological Garden one
of your stops! It's a short ride on the #11 tram from the center of town to the
zoo stop (Mezaparks).
We hope you've enjoyed our little tour!
We're always glad to hear your comments and suggestions.
Technically speaking, of course, the animal kingdom
is not grouped by "Birdies," "Fuzzy-Wuzzies," and
"Baldies!" As the Riga Zoo web site informs us, it's grouped by
"abinieki" (amphibians), "rapuli" (reptiles), "putni"
(birds), and "ziditaji" (mammals). You can find their site (in
Latvian) at:
Additional conservation and zoo links you might
also enjoy visiting:
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- The Rīga Zoo, Introduction to our day-trip
- "Birdies", Our feathered friends, even flamingos, are well represented
- "Fuzzy Wuzzies", Some of our furry friends are cute, some not, and some, perhaps, are merely misunderstood—plus a mystery animal quiz
- "Baldies", No feathers and no fur are the key to variety! plus, a collection of conservation links
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