Cougar Moutain Zoo

[allforcats]

Those goggles that are covering your glasses -- did the zoo provide them? Whoever did -- what a SMART idea!!

[VeronikaW]

Originally Posted by allforcats

Those goggles that are covering your glasses -- did the zoo provide them? Whoever did -- what a SMART idea!!

Yes, the zoo provides them, just in case. Their precautions seem mostly to protect the lemurs, rather than the humans, but the protective goggles were just in case the accidentally flung poo (apparently the don't fling poo on purpose, but sometimes they step in it, and shake their hands). I have to say, I didn't notice any poo in the cage, it looked like it had just been washed before I went in.

It was absolutely one of the best experiences ever. It was right up there with getting to feed the giraffes and rhinos at the San Diego Wild Animal Park (another gift from my hubby).

V. =)

[running-girl]

OMG, I'm have to get this for my dd for her 8th birthday in July. That is so amazing! She looooves Meerkat Manor on Animal Planet and is a complete animal nut. She'd go crazy for this experience.

How big was the group that went in?

[VeronikaW]

Originally Posted by running-girl

OMG, I'm have to get this for my dd for her 8th birthday in July. That is so amazing! She looooves Meerkat Manor on Animal Planet and is a complete animal nut. She'd go crazy for this experience.

How big was the group that went in?

It's basically a one person thing, but they let you bring in someone to take pictures if you want. It's totally individual. I was in the cage with 4 lemurs and the zoo guide.

I'm not sure if there's an age limit, as they made me sign something that basically said, if I died as a result of the lemur encounter, I wouldn't hold the zoo responsible.

Here's a link to the info about encounters:

About the Zoo

V. =)

[allforcats]

Originally Posted by VeronikaW

... they made me sign something that basically said, if I died as a result of the lemur encounter, I wouldn't hold the zoo responsible ...

Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!!! I can't stop laughing!!!

[running-girl]

Yeah, I've heard lemurs can be fierce.

And I'm so glad they let you bring in a photographer! I'd hate to have to pay twice the price just so we could get photos/video of it. Their office is closed today, so I'll have to check on age requirements tomorrow.

[VeronikaW]

Originally Posted by running-girl

Yeah, I've heard lemurs can be fierce.

And I'm so glad they let you bring in a photographer! I'd hate to have to pay twice the price just so we could get photos/video of it. Their office is closed today, so I'll have to check on age requirements tomorrow.

You get to go in with 4 female ringtail lemurs. There are three other cages that have males in them, and they're different types of lemurs, and those you get to feed through the bars.

All in all, I felt like their precautions were to protect the lemurs more than to protect me. So far, I've not suffered any adverse effects from the lemur encounter. LOL

[5chevin5]

I love the look on the Lemurs faces....They obviously know the drill and are kinda staring you down for the bananas....funny!!

My wife is a zoo/aquarium nut (despite an un-natureal fear of frogs) I remember before I left (many moon ago) they were doing some giant rainforest exihibit at woodland park...hows that look?

Zoos are definately a double edge sword, I wish that there were no zoos and that the animals were not in cages, however there is some conservation at zoos and some species need that protection (due to human interaction in their native place) And then I think to myself I should go to the zoo allot, so they have money to better take care of the animals that will be there anyways...(more people, more money= more tiger chow)

I think that taking part and contributing to animals well being is important...one banana at a time!


5

[seattlenextyear]

5, I feel that way too. Going to the zoo makes me both happy and sad. Sad to see the larger carnivores looking pretty lifeless, especially in zoos where they are kept in cages instead of fenced areas. Though getting to see all that biodiversity makes me happy. I'm glad that a lot of zoos are ramping up their conservation efforts, and I hope that continues to be one of their highest priorities.

[VeronikaW]

What's nice about Cougar Mountain is that they are strictly a conservation zoo. They only house endangered animals, and the money they make goes to conservation and such, so I don't feel bad about going there.

V. =)