Team Tapir Spring Zoo Trip

Team Tapir Spring Zoo Trip
26-03-2012

Going to hit up some zoos this week

Louisville-one of our regulars.
Knoxville-first time visit
Nashville-Bonnies first visit martys second visit
Cincinnatti -one of our regulars
Columbus-one of our regulars

Team Tapir

27-03-2012

Chicago in May too, right?

27-03-2012

Yes Chicago is going to be spring zoo trip 2

Team Tapir

27-03-2012

What zoo or aquarium in Chicago would you most like to see while you're there or will you be there for a couple a days? :-)

27-03-2012

Are you two going to visit Brookfield, Lincoln Park and Shedd Aquarium in May? It will be interesting to read your thoughts on Knoxville (lots of red pandas, an original black bear exhibit, a great children's zoo) and Nashville (briliant exhibits but quite a small zoo).

28-03-2012

My partner and I will be visiting all three and we hope to spend the day with Team Tapir to see one of those attractions with them.

28-03-2012

[QUOTE=snowleopard;538743]Are you two going to visit Brookfield, Lincoln Park and Shedd Aquarium in May?

Yes, Chicago in early May. We will only have a couple of days 4 or so, so we haven't decided which ones yet. We've been to Brookfield the last couple times we've been there so we might hit up Lincoln Park and Shedd instead this time.

Team Tapir

28-03-2012

We will meet up with you guys for sure. Always Fun.
Wed. or Thurs. probably. I babysit Tues. morning then we will be on our way.

Bonnie
Team Tapir

28-03-2012

Today was was pretty interesting.We wound up with quite an adventure just getting to Knoxville.First while driving through rural Kentucky I was really in need of a pit stop and we had not seen a rest area for miles so i said next exit were getting off and go a McDonalds or something.It turns out that exit was for the very first Kentucky Fried Chicken Restaurant completely restored with an attached museum and everything so we spent about 45 minutes in museum and then continued on our way.Then upon nearing the Knoxville Zoo we kept hearing on the radio that parts of Interstate 40 were closed because of a big bank heist.We were just hoping the closures would not delay us as we were already behind schedule.We were able to take the zoo exit no problem but as soon as we pulled to the front of the zoo wee saw a huge police dragnet set up and thought whats going on is the zoo closed?We looked around and saw a small sign reading zoo parking to the left then upon making the turn we saw the main lot and realized everything at the zoo was normal .

We spent about 4.5 hours at the zoo and really enjoyed it.Both the Black Bear Falls and Red Panda Village are easily the best around for those species.In all the zoos we have visited with red pandas we had never seen cubs before they were a blast.We felt that the african wild dogs,chimps and gorilla exhibits were all top notch as well.Elephants,Giraffes and zebras are average although it would be nice if they could erect a large wall to block the noise of Interstate 40 which runs right behind the savannah.The only exhibits we hated were lions,tigers and reptiles all of which are getting new exhibits.

Team Tapir

29-03-2012

We had a very nice visit to the Nashville Zoo today which means that Bonnie is now officially in the big 3 african elephant club (visited North Carolina,Dallas and Nashville).The Zoo does not have one single bad exhibit and has the best anywhere for several species including anteaters,Rhinoceros hornbill,cougars and bairds tapir.As if the elephant exhibit was not amazing enough it had quite a bit of action as well.A fight occurred between 2 of the zoos females which resulted in one of them bulldozing a small patch of trees and bushes.Neither one of us has ever seen anything quite like this .The area of brush was protected by these sprouts of small metal wires which are some what common in zoos these however were no match for the power of a angry elephant as she went right through them,she did not appear to be hurt by this.Keepers had to come out into the yard to restore order and survey some of the damage to the yard.Overall Bonnie loved her first visit to Nashville but for me (Marty)I felt that not much has been done since my 06 visit.Hopefully a new project is in the works.

Team Tapir

30-03-2012

Just wrapped up our the first leg of our spring zoo trip in Columbus.We had to skip Cincy because I could not get an extra day off of work that I was hoping for.We are picking up the second leg of our spring tour the first week of May with special guest appearances by our good friends Blospz .Guys can't wait see ya in the windy city.

Team Tapir

30-03-2012

I'm enjoying your mini-reviews of the zoos on your trip. I would like to visit the Knoxville and Nashville Zoos someday. The Nashville Zoo sounds especially impressive.

Did you get any pictures of the KFC museum that you can post in the United States gallery here? That sounds like a fun place to visit. I guess it is tangentially zoo related as several zoos do have chickens.

30-03-2012

@David No KFC pics LOL. I am glad your enjoying our mini reviews.I (Marty) have attempted writing full reviews before but I just don't feel I nor is Bonnie good enough of a writer to make them both entertaining and informative.The comprehensive reviews that people like you,Snowleopard,Blospz and Geomorph write are incredible.I am much more of a speaker I can talk all day,but I do my best to try to give some thoughts in print on the zoos we visit.

Team Tapir

31-03-2012

I was at the Dallas Tuesday. I got to watch one of the elephants chase the impalas and zebras. It is a thrill for me each time I get to see the impalas running and jumping. Also met some staff members from the Colorado Springs zoo. They didn't kmow about zoo chat. I hope they join.

01-05-2012

Going to resume our spring zoo trip on tuesday with visits to

Toledo Zoo
Shedd Aquarium
Lincoln Park Zoo
Brookfield Zoo
Binder Park Zoo first time visit for us.

Team Tapir