While we were in Portland, we spent a few hours at the Portland Zoo.
I had been inspired by Bob Mielke, who takes fantastic photos of the Portland Zoo animals. You can check out his blog here. The first two hours we were there it poured rain off and on and most of the animals were hiding. Besides, I didn’t want to ruin my camera in the rain. For a while, we thought Portland was just pretending they had a zoo. But by mid-afternoon the rain stopped and I was able to get a few photos.
These photos are of the caracal. He stayed hidden most of the time but I was able to capture a few photos of him in his den.
I have a few more photos from the zoo that I will be posting. I hope to get back to the Portland Zoo sometime . . . when it’s not pouring rain. They are building new exhibit sites and I think it will be spectacular when everything is finished.
Maralee
Through My Lens 
Nice looking, if clearly not happy, animal.
Zoos seem to be doing a little better at presenting the animals in more comfortable and realistic enclosures. Still enclosures, but I suppose every little bit helps.
I’ve always felt bad for animals at the zoo but they are getting better about the enclosures. The new elephant enclosure at the Portland Zoo is going to be huge.
By coincidence, Cheyenne zoo redid the elephant enclosure, and now it doesn’t even look like an enclosure, and it is much larger. You can also hand-feed the elephants (under a zookeeper’s supervision) during a two hour slot in the afternoon. The elephant is behind a heavy barrier, but still, pretty neat.
There was a long line waiting to experience touching an elephant.
These are great photographs. Would love to have one as a pet 🙂
They’re beautiful animals. As a pet though????? 🙂
very kewl 🙂
Thank you very much.
Maralee what a fantastic face …. Wow! The top photo is just magical. What a beautiful animal.
I love #3. Beautiful photos. I think that your best work is with animals and flowers. Just my opinion. I am a big fan of all of your work, though.
Thanks, Viveka. They really are gorgeous animals. If the weather hadn’t been so awful they might have been out roaming more.
Worth the wait.
It was. I wish I could have gotten him outside his den.
Reblogged this on Amazing Fine Art and commented:
outstanding!
Thank you very much and thanks for the reblog.
beautiful
Thank you, David.
Pretty kitty.
It is a pretty kitty.