San Diego Zoo Safari Park

14XD0726 We extended our stay in the LA area after the Tauck tour had finished and spent a day at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

14XD0789 Guenther’s Dik-Dik foreground and a Lesser Kudu on the right.

14XD0909 Gazelle

14XD0888 Gazelle

14XD0919 Thomson's Gazelle

14XD0944 Gemsbok Oryx

14XD0994 Notice the long eye lashes, they are thick enough to provide shade like a ball cap.

14XD0944 Cape Buffalo with two calves.

14XD1226 Bongo

14XD1199 Bongo Calf

14XD1101 Kudus

14XD1514 Ground-Hornbill

Maura the five year old Cheetah going about 60 mph!

14XD1731 Just before the Cheetah demonstration Mable the Meerkat was brought in for a closer look.

14XD1774 Worms, Yum Yum!!

14XD1907 After a brief rest the handlers observe the cat’s heart rate and decide if she can make a second run.

14XD1940 Good news, Maura is ready for another run.

14XD195 If she wants to lay down in the shade on the way back she lays down. This is a cooperation between the handlers and the Cheetah even though there are two leashes on the cat for safety (except when the cat runs). This is not at all like taking a dog for a walk.

14XD1964 There is even time to play with her tail.

14XD2047 After the second run Maura was brought in the small enclosure for a “meet and greet” with about 20 people that had paid for admission to this area. There was no fence or other obstruction between the Cheetah and us. The only control was just the two leashes between the cat and the handler. What a great experience!!!

14XD2158 From time to time the Cheetah would lick the two handlers, which is a form of bonding. They said a Cheetah’s tongue is rather rough.

14XD2252 Tiger