Cuddly residents of Philadelphia Zoos

[PacAce]

We had a respite from the week long rain and sleet today so I took a day off from work and drove down to the Philadelphia Zoo. Although the sun was out, it still was a bit chilly so most of the warm weather residents stayed indoors. Here are a few that ventured out:

Russian Amur leopard. He's a cold weather cat so he really didn't mind the cold.

http://tanseikai.com/pacace/images/PhillyZoo/Amur-(Russian)-Leopard.jpg

1DmkII, 70-200 IS L @ 70 mm - 1/80 sec. f/3.2 ISO 200


The Cheetas, on the other hand, are warm weather animals so these two guys had to keep each other warm.

http://tanseikai.com/pacace/images/PhillyZoo/Cheetas.jpg

1DmkII, 70-200 IS L + 1.4x TC @ 280 mm - 1/100 sec. f/5.6 ISO 200


Red Panda

http://tanseikai.com/pacace/images/PhillyZoo/Red-Panda.jpg

1DmkII, 70-200 IS L @ 85 mm - 1/100 sec. f/6.3 ISO 200 with 550EX flash

[Scottes]

Love the leopard, and the cheetahs are gorgeous. Too bad they were moving around - they're incredible to watch move, even walking.

I'm glad you finally got out to take some pics. And it's certainly better than working!

[eric1]

i like the leopard too, i can't seem to get ours away from the fence. i went to the zoo today too, but didn't process the pics yet. it was rainy so i did the sssnake housse. ;)

[RockOne]

G'Day.
The leopard is fantastic. The green of the eyes is incredible.Looks like he's checking you out as a potential meal :-)

[sparker1]

I like them all. The leopard's eyes seem to be locked onto the viewer (photographer).

[PacAce]

i like the leopard too, i can't seem to get ours away from the fence. i went to the zoo today too, but didn't process the pics yet. it was rainy so i did the sssnake housse. ;)

Yup, I got a couple of snake and other lizard pictures, too. I posted them here in case you haven't seen them yet:

http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?p=373329#post373329

[cmM]

I wouldn't wanna cuddle with those kitties :-P

Nice shots!

[IanD]

The leopard and Red Panda are really great. I was wondering though, no kangroos there?:):):):):):)

[PacAce]

The leopard and Red Panda are really great. I was wondering though, no kangroos there?:):):):):):)

They did along with the Emus but somehow they got wind that I was coming to the zoo so decided to take a last minute flight back to Australia for a two week summer vacation there. :shock: :mrgreen: :lol:

Let me tell you, I was really disappointed I missed them.

However, I did bump into this guy who wasn't sure what he was. When he was born, someone told him that he was a unicorn. Then he found out that unicorns only have one horn and he has two.

Then in his teenage years, someone told him that he is, in fact, a goat and not just any goat but one who's related to the famous Billy the Goat himself, no less. Then he found out that he's too big to be a goat.

When he became a yound adult he went up to Canada to find work. Since they don't allow guns, knives and other deadly weapons into Canada, he had to have his horns removed. Well, one day, someone there told him that he was really a jackass. When he told me this, I was struck by the remarkable resemblance he has to Gitzo (minus the horn, of course). BTW, what ever happend to Gitzo, anyway? I haven't seen him in a while. Could it be that Gitzo was thrown out of the house because his pointy, deadly horns grew back and was poking everybody's eyes out in the household? Could this be our beloved Gitzo, now making a meager living at the Philly Zoo? :confused:

[stoneylonesome]

Beautiful shots Leo, Love the Red Panda.

[IanD]

BTW, what ever happend to Gitzo, anyway? I haven't seen him in a while. Could it be that Gitzo was thrown out of the house because his pointy, deadly horns grew back and was poking everybody's eyes out in the household? Could this be our beloved Gitzo, now making a meager living at the Philly Zoo? :confused:
Gitzo is alive and well. However he is very happy that you have found his long lost cousin Velbon. There is a weak family resemblance. Velbon was always the black sheep (excuse the pun) of the family and was always horning in on others (again excuse the pun). He was always trying his hardest to get Gitzo's goat (pun) and was finally booted out of Canada and found his way to Philly where he was very close to becoming a Philly Cheese Steak sandwich until someone realized that they would have to rename said world famous sandwich, Philly Cheese Goat Steak. Didn't sound just right.

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

[Mills]

First one is fantastic. Can't believe how great the eyes are.

[Kinger]

Great shots, the first one is amazing. I can't wait to make it over there for a session, but it looks likeI will have to wait till spring, since I normally sleep during the day. Plus I can't wait till they finish buiding the new Big Cat Pavalion, it will be nice to see them again.

[PacAce]

Great shots, the first one is amazing. I can't wait to make it over there for a session, but it looks like I will have to wait till spring, since I normally sleep during the day. Plus I can't wait till they finish buiding the new Big Cat Pavalion, it will be nice to see them again.

Are you saying you hibernate through the winter? :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Re the Big Cat Pavalion, it won't be ready until Spring of 2006. My heart sank when i saw the sign for it since I'm not a very patient man. :( Oh well, at least they still had the leopard and the cheetahs on display.

[Kinger]

No, I don't hibernate during the winter :), I work the overnight shift at my local hospital, so I do most of my sleep during the day time, which means I wake around 4pm. This time a year 4pm it is already dark out. so when the spring comes the sun stays out longer, I get to take some daytime shots again.

[ssim]

Nice shots Leo. Now really.... define a bit chilly. I'm sure those of us "up north" wouldn't agree with your definition.

[IanD]

Nice shots Leo. Now really.... define a bit chilly. I'm sure those of us "up north" wouldn't agree with your definition. Philly cold is when you have to wear a long sleeved shirt.
Montreal cold is when you have to wear fur lined boot laces.
:):):):):):):):):):):):)

[PacAce]

Nice shots Leo. Now really.... define a bit chilly. I'm sure those of us "up north" wouldn't agree with your definition.

Philly chilly (did you notice I qualified "chilly" this time? :) ) is when I have to have my double-layered ski jacket on, a baseball cap, turned backwards, on my head, and a tote glove on my left hand to keep the hand warm. The right hand is left bare (and turning white) to operate the camera (this is where I start thinking fingerless gloves would the be ideal gloves to have on--have you ever tried adjusting the settings on the 1DmkII with gloved hands?). :mrgreen: :lol: