Enough with the rain already.

Today was the Zoo lunch event for all the graduating seniors. It rained the whole time, but we still ate our lunch and saw a few of the indoor exhibits. One of them was the Bengal Tiger. It would pace in half circles, following the perimeter of the enclosure, and then it would walk through the center directly at the glass window we were standing behind. As you are standing there, you know 2 or so inches of glass separate you and the tiger, but that really doesn't matter when it is staring you down, and walking right toward you at face level. Your knees still feel a little weak, and you kind of take a step back. And if you are 2 years old, you run and hide behind your Dad's legs.
Later, as we walked through the Big Cat building, we saw another tiger curled up and sleeping up on a big rock. We pointed it out to Claire.

"Claire, look at that tiger. He's taking a nap."
"Lets not wake him up."

Probably a good idea.

Not a lot of animals were moving around on a day like today, but many of the ones we did see included babies. Baby geese, baby kangaroos, and baby dall sheep, which Claire loved.

And finally, some cool fun facts about the Milwaukee County Zoo (you get to read a lot at the zoo when its raining).

The zoo first opened in 1892 as a miniature bird and mammal display in a barn at what is now Washington Park. In 1958, the zoo was moved to its present location, and today they have over 2,000 specimens representing 350 different species.

To date, the Milwaukee Zoo has the largest captive group of bonobo apes in the world - 20 total - a highly endangered species of great ape.

In the African Waterhole, the Zoo simulates nature by seeming to exhibit predator and prey in the same enclosure. However, the prey is protected from its stalkers by invisible dry moats weaved between the foreground and background exhibit areas. So the antelopes, zebras, and ostriches live in close proximity to the African lions, and nobody gets eaten.

Who every heard of a 'herd'?

A group of alligators is a congregation.
A sleuth of bears
A flock of camels
A murder of crows
A pod of dolphins
A swarm of eels
A smack of jellyfish
A skulk of foxes
A troop of kangaroos
A leap of leopards
A mischief of mice
A raft of otters
A knot of toads
A rafter of turkeys
A gang of weasels