The two RV Gypsies enjoyed
The St. Louis Zoo
in St. Louis, Missouri
May 27, 2022

The Saint Louis Zoo, officially the Saint Louis Zoological Park, is a zoo in Forest Park, St. Louis, Missouri. It is recognized as a leading zoo in animal management, research, conservation, and education. The zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Admission is FREE based on a public subsidy from a cultural tax district, the Metropolitan Zoological Park and Museum District (ZMD); fees are charged for some special attractions. A special feature is the 2-foot narrow-gauge Emerson Zooline Railroad with passenger trains pulled by Chance Rides C.P. Huntington locomotives that encircle the zoo, stopping at the more popular attractions. (The two RV Gypsies did not photograph the railroad though).

There was a free concert going on in the zoo on this date.

Below: There is a big parking lot across from the entry, but there is a fee to park there. The very small, free parking lot across the the bridge from the zoo was just a short walk, and the two RV Gypsies were lucky enough to find a parking spot.

It had a playground and a few things for kids to climb on. Too bad the big turtle did not like Lee Duquette very much. Or maybe it liked him a lot, and that is why it tried to eat him.

Below: Scenery just before entering the zoo.

Below: Information posted about caves in Missouri and some fake cave stalactites. This seemed like a strange exhibit to the two RV Gypsies.

A funny event: While Lee was buying some food, a little boy ran up to Karen and touched her neck. (She had a turtleneck top on so he did not actually touch her skin) Then he ran back to his parents. Karen just stood there in shock.

Below: A small pond with a fake elephant blowing water out of its trunk.

Below: The capybara is a fat cavy rodent native to South America. It is the largest living rodent. Its close relatives include guinea pigs and rock cavies, and it is more distantly related to the agouti, the chinchilla, and the nutria. The capybara inhabits savannas and dense forests and lives near bodies of water. It is a highly social species and can be found in groups as large as 100 individuals, but usually lives in groups of 10–20 individuals. The capybara is hunted for its meat and hide and also for grease from its thick fatty skin. It is not considered a threatened species.

Below:The two RV Gypsies are not sure what the animals in the two photos shown below are. There was not any signs.

Below: The black rhinoceros is native to eastern and southern Africa including Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Eswatini, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Although the rhinoceros is referred to as black, its color varies from brown to grey.

The other African rhinoceros is the white rhinoceros (none were seen here at this zoo).

The species overall is classified as critically endangered (even though the south-western black rhinoceros is classified as near threatened). Three subspecies have been declared extinct, including the western black rhinoceros.

Below: The African wild dog, also called the African painted dog and the African hunting dog has been listed as endangered since 1990. Its natural enemies are lions and spotted hyenas: the former will kill the dogs where possible, while hyenas are frequent kleptoparasites (they steal food from another animal).

The African wild dog regurgitates food for its young, but also extends this action to adults, as a central part of the pack's social life. The young are allowed to feed first on carcasses.

Below: The red river hog or bushpig is a wild member of the pig family living in Africa, with most of its distribution in the Guinean and Congolian forests. It is rarely seen away from rainforests, and generally prefers areas near rivers or swamps.

The serval is a wild cat native to Africa. The serval is a slender, medium-sized cat that stands 21–24 inches at the shoulder and weighs 20–40 pounds. It has a small head, large ears, a golden-yellow to buff coat spotted and striped with black, and a short, black-tipped tail. The serval has the longest legs of any cat relative to its body size.

The serval is a solitary carnivore and active both by day and at night. It preys on rodents, particularly rats, small birds, frogs, insects, and reptiles, using its sense of hearing to locate prey. It leaps over 6 feet 7 inches above the ground to land on the prey on its forefeet, and finally kills it with a bite on the neck or the head.

Below: The cheetah is a large cat native to Africa and central Iran. It is the fastest land animal, estimated to be capable of running at 50 to 80 mph with the fastest reliably recorded speeds being 58 and 61 mph. It typically reaches 26–37 inches at the shoulder, and the head-and-body length is between 3 feet 7 inches and 4 feet 11 inches. Adults weigh between 46 and 159 ponds. Its head is small and rounded, and has a short snout and black tear-like facial streaks. The coat is typically tawny to creamy white or pale buff and is mostly covered with evenly spaced, solid black spots. Four subspecies are recognized.

Below:The Cheetahs were way in the back and hard to see. But Karen Duquette zoomed in on them.

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