Our yearly zoo pass has expired. We decided not to renew. It’s a nice zoo but there is a lot of construction still going on and it seemed the animals weren’t around a lot because everything was closed or under construction.

I loved all the trees at the zoo. Keeps everything shaded and cool for the summer months. Our city should do more of that. But since we got our new mayor, California girl, seems more trees are being chopped down in our city to build more and more apartments, even our citrus groves, and farm areas are being taken down for apartments.

I would still recommend getting a zoo pass if you move here to Arizona. It’s a great place to just walk and exercise. It’s quiet and even if there aren’t a lot of animals out, usually there are always lots of adorable birds out and cottontail bunnies. The plants everywhere make it a fun walk. Living in a desert environment will do that to you, anything green cheers you up. The staff are super friendly too.

It’s also a good place to have a breakfast or lunch with guests that visit. My husband’s friend from Canada (just became an American citizen this year) enjoyed his visit to the zoo so much that he asked to go back and see the bear the next day. The bear was not out the day of their first visit. The bear is his favorite animal. We all have a favorite.

So here they are, my favorite animal moments and photos from a year of wild walks….

I never was able to get a good photo of the single Elephant they have at the zoo. We only saw the elephant out a couple times in our yearly pass.

I also never saw the otter or the squirrel monkeys that used to be everywhere on monkey island. I did see the alligator but there was no good shot of it so the photo would not have come out looking like anything. If you want to see some cute otters visit the aquarium in Scottsdale.

My favorite parts about the zoo were the beautiful plants everywhere, the little pond with the tadpoles, prairie dogs and the tiny owls. Every morning when we were there, the tiny owls would be eating their tiny mice breakfast. I know that sounds so gross but they seem to enjoy them. The mice were frozen. So it wasn’t messy or gross, just like they were carrying around mouse toys to be enjoyed later.

So if you have a pass, skip going in the mornings when they eat if that kind of stuff bothers you. Some kids seem to like the natural part of how life works…everyone needs to eat. Oh, and the turkey, I really loved their turkey. He was such a character. I wouldn’t eat him, I’d keep that one as a pet. You know, I also had a pet white mouse when I was a kid, so cute. I tend to do that with our live critters, keep them as pets.

The bear, the Rhino, and the elephant made me a little sad. I believe they need some company. Hopefully when the zoo finishes their huge African exhibit there will be a giant space with all of them out there together, except the bear of course, wrong environment.

I know elephants are a big draw but I would send this elephant to a place where there are other elephants to hang out with and a lot of green plants and space everywhere. Our poor elephant just has dirt to walk around and cement décor everywhere. It’s designed like a giant maze of bars, like an elephant jail with a small outside yard area.

I remember Hazel when I was a little girl, our gorilla had the same type of sad cement area that they put her in. Poor Hazel. We would go to the zoo when we had a field trip day back in the public school I attended, and every time I saw Hazel I would stand there at the bars staring and thinking how sad she was. I didn’t want to leave her area and always had to be called back to the class when the teachers walked away from the exhibit…

“You know…I don’t think Hazel is happy. Her home is really boring and hot…she is not happy” I would say out loud to the teacher as I walked in a line with the other kids. Never liked lines either. Haven’t seen a lot of lines lately, think they gave up on keeping kids in them.

I was a stubborn child. I always had to be careful with speaking out loud, seemed there was always someone around to offend easily, even back then. There were times my mouth got me in trouble back in school. Not from swearing, never did that, but just saying what was true out loud.

Now the zoo has a statue of Hazel the gorilla at their entrance, but I remember seeing her in the flesh and I remember what a terrible home they built for her. The zoo never got a new gorilla after that and secretly this has made me happy over the years. I imagine the gorillas are all together somewhere now hanging under beautiful shady trees with pretty streams of water next to them. It’s better that they are there and not in a cement zoo enclosure with no plants.

If zoos are all about protecting animals because they may not be able to live outside in the wild, then make sure they make their new home as close to wild as possible, which this zoo never did for Hazel. Rest in peace Hazel.

Apparently the zoo never learned from their Hazel experience. Because here I am as an adult now looking off at that elephant and thinking to myself that the elephant needs to go somewhere where it will be happy. Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that this elephant is not happy. Oh no, here we go again. I imagine myself speaking out loud to the nice couple standing next to me with a baby in a stroller…

“ Do you think that elephant is happy?” but instead I will walk by shaking my head and grimacing at what I believe is going on, raised eyebrows and frowning as I walk away. Once again my face always gives me away.

I really hope the new African exhibit is a nice one but I still think this Elephant would be happier with it’s own kind. Aren’t they herd animals? Maybe our elephant needs to retire to Florida…do they have an Elephant rescue center out there? Yeah, that’s where I would ship this elephant. I don’t play the lottery but if I did and it was one of those giant jack pot winnings like over a hundred million, and I just happen to win, I would buy this elephant and send it to Florida.

I wonder how much zoo elephants cost. You think you can google that? Okay, I’m off…have to go google something. Nothing wrong with a nice day dream once in awhile. Hope you all enjoyed the photos. My animal encounters now will be whatever I come across out walking in the desert or woods here in Arizona.Happy zoo adventures everyone.