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Posted

This past weekend, Shannon and I decided to celebrate our anniversary by taking a trip down to Zoo Atlanta. We both love a good zoo, and especially when you visit at just the right time. Too hot, and the animals do nothing. Too cold, and you're miserable. Just the right temperature, and everything's perfect, as it turned out to be on this day....lucky for us.

 

Zoo Atlanta just finished celebrating its baby panda's first birthday in September, and we were anxious to see her. Not only that, but we also discovered the zoo has an incredible carousel themed to endangered species. It has beautiful hand carved wooden animals, underneath a great shelter, in a perfect location near the zoo's children's section.

 

We highly recommend a visit to Zoo Atlanta if you're in the area! It's a zoo. There's animals. Not much more to really say, I guess. I'll let the pics tell the story from here. Enjoy!

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LEEEEEEMURS!!!!!

 

 

Stay tuned. There's more to come.

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....where you'll find several cool species of exotic birds, and.....

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After the jam session, we headed to this...

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I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad

I got sunshine in a bag

I'm useless, but not for long. The future is comin' on.....

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It's the eye of the tiger, it's the cream of the fight

Risin' up to the challenge of our rival

And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night

And he's watchin' us all in the eye......

(take it!)

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When they're not slapping Tony Danza or driving a limo, orangatans basically do nothing.

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Is it just me, or wouldn't Jaguar have been a better fit....you know, considering they own it anyway?

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Hey look, this zoo is TPR friendly. For now anyway. ;)

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During the bird show, this punk flew over us and slapped me upside my head! I would've shook my fist at him a la Chuck style, but that's his patented move. :)

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Can't forget one for the panda poop enthusiasts lurking out there. You know who you are.

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We tried to take a real one, but this is the closest we got.

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Donate your change to the panda head, or bad things will follow you home.

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This is one of the special UPS crates they were shipped form China in. If you're unaware, receiving pandas on loan from China is a HUGE ordeal, usually involving months and even years of red tape.

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Ron Burgandy was not on hand for the birth.

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Awww, cute panda wanda. You're so adorable. Wait, did I just say that out loud?

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Awww.

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I think I already mentioned this, but here's proof.

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We arrived early to catch the panda Q&A. The trainers spoke, and the pandas did panda things....as seen here.

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I bet there's pandas in there.

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When you're finished here, please be sure to visit the Michael Vick Pitbull Desecration Center next door.

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We thought they did a great job with the design of the area.

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We shall name her Mei Lan! (pronounced May Lon)

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I'm no geography expert, but I'm guessing they're probably this way.

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....where we feed our treasured Giant Pandas only the finest bamboo and Coca Cola products.

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Welcome to Zoo Atlanta....

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I love the water. There, we're even now. The key to a lasting happy marriage is compromise. ;)

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On the way there, we passed a field of sunflowers. One of us loves sunflowers. Can you guess who? Hint: rhymes with annon.

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Posted

Congrats to you and Shannon, that's all I really all I have to say because I'm with you... it's a zoo, one I've been to and it has animals. The end

 

I've actually never ridden the carousel, in fact, its been a while since I've been there - last time I went, Willie B. had just died

Posted

Although I generally think that species preservation is the only legitimate use for zoos, watching pandas is a hypnotic experience that no camera could ever reproduce. I remember trying to photograph one of the pandas at the San Diego zoo, and the sucker basically turned his back to me for a good 5-10 minutes. Before I could get a decent shot of him the zoo workers started telling everyone to move along to make room for more guests.

Posted

^^ Thanks man.

Although I generally think that species preservation is the only legitimate use for zoos, watching pandas is a hypnotic experience that no camera could ever reproduce.

I agree. We'll only visit the top notch zoos with the best facilities geared towards preservation and education. Anything else is just too depressing. And yes, capturing a rare endangered species such as a panda on film just doesn't do it justice. It pays to see stuff like this at least once in a lifetime.

 

Time for more animals and stuff.

Alligator Snapping Turtle.WMV

Feeding time!

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Rodent lovers, sorry about that movie clip. I'm sure the turtle lovers appreciated it though. ;)

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Okay, now this was pretty cool. I had never seen a King Cobra before this. Of course, he had no reason to feel threatened, so no cool defensive position....point deduction.

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Generic snake of some kind.

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Time for the obligatory reptile area.

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Oh, I see. How often can you say you watched meerkats humping? It's really not a complete visit to a zoo without seeing something like this. lol

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What's everybody looking at?

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Meerkat!

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Never realized warthogs were fond of gummie bears.

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We finally got to see a rhino doing more than just standing there or completely hiding from a Rhino Rally ride vehicle. It actually moved that whole tree thing with its horn. Cool.

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Poor African Plains. Sucks to not be sponsored by a major car company.

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Otters.

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Time out to recycle.

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Hi Larry.

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I recommend the chicken caesar salad wrap.

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Nice place, if I do say so myself.

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Lunchie Munchies.

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This was the liveliest kangaroo all day.:)

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That's from here to there. Wow.

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Interesting.

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He refused to do anything, so I closed my eyes and imagined him boxing another one.

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Hello to the aussies out there.

Posted

^ Thanks man. I appreciate it.

 

(have you EVER posted a mediocre Photo TR, btw?)

Well, you may be looking at it.

 

Anyway, I'll close it out with my favorite part...the Endangered Species Carousel. Thanks for reading!

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Thanks again for reading! Hope you enjoyed it.

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Hi Wes!

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Then it was time to head out, but not before a stop in the gift shop.

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Oh yeah, and before we headed out, we caught a glimpse of the otters again. While the meerkats were busy humping, the otters decided to be a bit more classy about it for all the voyeuristic humans.

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Extreme POV.

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Each train car was sponsored by a different company. We obviously picked the best one.

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The engine.

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And I thought this was unique, and cool.

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After a couple carousel rides it was time to hop on the train since it was included with the all-day ride wristbands.

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Hey, great things occasionally really do come out of Ohio. ;)

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Posted

That place sure makes many of our zoos out here in California pale by comparison. We have a train ride at the Santa Barbara Zoo, and the grounds are nice, but it isn't that big.

 

And where else can you ride a panda on a carousel?

 

Nice report, you guys!

 

Eric

Posted

Congrats good sir on your and Shannon's special day! And thank you for sharing it with us, it's always a pleasure to read your reports.

 

So well done, I feel like it counts as my zoo credit for the year! Dont have to go back to one until next year!

 

-Jahan

Posted

That's a great TR Scott. Congratulations on your anniversary. I am guessing you were married one week after us. Of course, I don't know what year.

 

We like zoos also. We have been to the San Diego Zoo and the National Zoo in DC. My wife loves watching the meerkats play. They are so fun. I just hand her the camera and leave her alone for a while.

Posted

^ Thanks Rick. Yeah, we were married 9-26-98. It's been 9 GREAT years!

We've been to several zoos together. Knoxville, Atlanta, and Miami Metro Zoo (although sadly it has never fully recovered from Hurricane Andrew ). I've also been to San Diego, but it was way back in '86, and I'd love to go back. The National in D.C., and the Bronx are also at the top of the list to visit one day.

 

We have a train ride at the Santa Barbara Zoo, and the grounds are nice, but it isn't that big.

Actually, it's a bit deceiving by what I posted, but the train ride is really quite short. It's really just a quick 5 minute (?) circle around half the zoo. Mostly a kiddie train type of thing. Nice though.

 

Joe - I had a feeling the desired effect would be achieved. Attribute it to the evilness of giraffes, I guess.

 

So well done, I feel like it counts as my zoo credit for the year! Dont have to go back to one until next year!

Hmm, maybe I need to start charging admission for my TRs then.

 

Nah, thanks for the kind words Jahan, and everyone else as well.

Posted

^We went to the San Diego Zoo last year and it was a blast. The next time we go, we want to do the safari. You get to actually be on the ground and watch the cheetahs run by. It looks and sounds awesome. The place isn't in San Diego, but more north of it.

 

We have been to the National Zoo around 5 or 6 times because Gyendolynne's dad was doing some locating (water lines, etc.) for them for the new panda exhibit. We sort of had a behind the scenes tour of the place. The panda area is great.

 

Our wedding was on 9-22-01, 6 great years!

Posted

Pfft...all you September grooms.

 

Oh, wait...my 21st anniversary was September 27...

 

But happy belated anniversaries for you guys!

 

Eric

Posted

I've been duped. I read the title of the thread and thought Hypersonic was moving to the Atlanta Zoo.

 

Good TR anyway and congrats on the anniversary.

 

Thanks for the shout out and be sure to let me know when you have to drive that heap of junk back to Massachusetts

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