what would a visit in thuringia be without a visit to the erfurt zoo?
that's what i always do, at least once a year and it was time again, so without further ado, have some animals!
cape hyrax munching on fresh greens. did you know they are close relatives of elephants?
i cannot see anything elephantine about them, but it surely is strange to think of them as mini elephants with lots of fur and a short nose.
cape ground squirrel excavating.
the zoo was awakening and glowing in all kinds of spring colours.
and more of them! strange animals they are, so alien looking.
giraffe kiddo. it was born last year and she is called mayla. i adore giraffes with their long necks and soft-spoken eyes. they're family animals, too, so tender and caring.
hedgehogs and snakes in the sky.
the cheetahs had six cubs last year, too and boy, were they real players.
they were already almost 1 year old at the time we were visiting and the baby fat was nearly gone. you could identify the cubs by their silvery mane, and they also were a tiny bit smaller than the mother. but still, they were really, really cute.
almost teenagers hanging around together on the playing field.
the walk-in fallow deer compound is one of my favourites. you can feed them and get close to them, which is amazing. ever looked into the gentle eyes of deer? you will fall in love. again and again and again.
they also had baby deer.
such a peaceful scene.
i love the little snouty face the deer in the front is making. i want to kiss it.
totem poles near the buffalo compound. welcome to the wild, wild west.
more beautiful spring blossoms.
buffalo sighting!
oh my, prairie dogs are my second most favourite animals in the world. yes, i have a thing for anything squirrel-related. they're just so bright and keen.
southern crested caracara. beautiful bird. look at those orange eyes.
prairie dog in the sky. i absolutely adore this photo.
i'm the kind of girl that squeals whenever she sees skulls. oh, skulls, all be mine.
spring is the best time of the year, i cannot stress it enough. makes everything look even more friendly.
about to explode.
i've seen quite a lot of peacock butterflies this past spring! red admirals are usually the most common butterflies i keep finding.
view onto the erfurt skyline. and the new elephant house. i don't know why i didn't photograph the elephants, though. i believe they were out of sight when we visited.
white bliss.
sleeping rainbow mabuya!
geese inside the farm house.
tiny pygmy goats about to cuddle. unfortunately i have only a picture from behind.
cows are strangely comforting to me. i don't know why.
the barbary ape compound is another favourite of mine. they are so ludicrous and funny. and also very stubborn. it's always a joy to step inside and watch them play, delousing each other, fight or love. here my mother is a bit wary of an ape casually sitting on a railing and greeting us.
let me find aaaaaall the lices. especially the ones on your derriére.
this picture is probably my most favourite of the whole batch. it reminds me of my father while sleeping. that expression is exactly what they both unite :D
close-up of a kookaburra.
red-necked wallaby relaxing in the sun.
what would a day at the zoo be without a meerkat visit?
the final animal of the day ( and which i was very excited about, because i've rarely seen it outside before ) was the bat-eared fox. those fierce eyes! such a precious babe.
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