This amazing place is 104 years old. We don't get to it as often as we should due to the fact that it is way in San Diego. Since we had to be near for an appointment we visited the world famous San Diego Zoo.

We visited last March with a different emphasis. Today it was mainly about reptiles and the like.
Can you imagine what this giant tortoise has seen in his lifetime? Wowzers.
 
We haven't visited the new Reptile Walk before so off we went.

The exhibit features three new reptile areas for turtles, amphibians, and a space showcasing Southern California's native reptile and amphibian populations. The enclosures are built to mimic the look and feel of each animal's native habitats, including marshes, swamps, vernal pools and bogs, enabling visitors to walk through the exhibits and see the animals in a more natural environment. More than 50 reptile and amphibian species are on exhibit at Reptile Walk, including poison frogs, the critically endangered mountain yellow-legged frog, mossy tree frogs, giant horned lizards , king snakes, Malayan giant turtles, leaf tailed geckos, and more.


 



In additional to live things that can move, the botanical wonders here are absolutely stunning with more than 4,500 species of plants. Prized collections include orchids, cycads, fig trees, palms, and coral trees. Naturalistic animal exhibits are heavily planted and resemble the animals' native habitats. Some plants, such as bamboo, eucalyptus, acacia, and hibiscus, are grown for animal food. Just something more to admire while strolling about.

Part of our visit was meandering through the aviaries. Such beauty in motion.

We even spotted a tourist.
A highlight for us was to explore Africa Rocks. This new area of the park spotlights the amazing biodiversity found on the African continent, with unusual and striking species ready for their rise to fame. Ushering us into each new habitat are rock formations unique to their regions—from the craggy granite outcroppings of the kopje, to the jagged, layered tsingy rocks of Madagascar, to the smooth, wave-worn boulders of the South Africa coastline. So unique.
 
Penguins always please. So dang cute and cool to see them being fed.

I realize some people have different opinions about zoos. This is not your zoo of yore. The Zoo is a protected haven where breeding and caring for endangered species can help protect against extinction. It provides opportunities for animal behavior and health studies that would be difficult, if not impossible, to conduct in the wild. The results of these studies are shared with other zoos and wildlife parks, and help guide animal conservation efforts in field projects. And they educate. We are members to support this exceptional program. We return because everytime we're here we learn something new and find amazement. We 💗 the San Diego Zoo. Always have. Always will.