The Philadelphia Zoo’s 42-acre Victorian garden is home to more than 1,300 animals, many of them rare and endangered. The Zoo, fulfilling its mission of conservation, science, education and recreation, supports and engages in conservation efforts to protect endangered species around the world. Cheetahs, hippos, giraffes and much more make the zoo Philadelphia's leading family attraction with over 1.2 million visitors last year.
Like many other Philadelphia landmarks and institutions, the Philadelphia Zoo is an American first. The charter establishing the Zoological Society of Philadelphia was approved and signed on March 21, 1859. Due to the Civil War, however, it was another 15 years before America's first zoo was ready to open.
The Zoo opened its gates on July 1, 1874. The Frank Furness Victorian gates and gatehouses, and the Zoo's location, are the same today as they were on the day it opened.
On November 13th, I had the opportunity to visit the zoo for the first time since moving to Bucks County in 1970. The weather was incredibly beautiful, and I spent 4 hours roaming the grounds and taking many photographs. You can view the photographs in larger format by clicking directly over it.
Cheetahs
The cheetah is the fastest mammal on land, capable of speed bursts of up to 70 miles per hour. It has a highly flexible spine and a slender build which allows it to take long and rapid strides. The cheetah can sprint 60-70 miles per hour but only for short distances -- approximately 300 yards. It has blunt, partly curved unsheathed claws which provide additional traction during rapid acceleration.
Mother giraffe licks baby Abigail who was born at the zoo on July 17, 2010
Two rare birds at McNeil Avian Center
Caribbean Flamingos
The Caribbean flamingo and Greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) are the most brightly colored and largest of all flamingos and sometimes considered subspecies of one species. They are a scarlet pink color overall and have black primary feathers with large bodies and flexible long necks topped with a small head. The flamingo's long legs and feet are bare, and their toes are webbed. Young birds are mostly grey and do not develop their characteristic pink until after the first year. The sexes are similar in appearance although males tend to be larger than the females.
At the end of the 19th century the southern white rhino was considered extinct, but a small population numbering around 50 animals was discovered in South Africa. With intense protection the southern white rhino came back from the edge of extinction and is now considered to be the most numerous species of rhino left in the world. Most of the approximately 15,000 southern white rhinos are restricted to game reserves and national parks where their safety can be carefully monitored.
Galapagos and Aldabra tortoises
Red-Shanked Douc Langur
Pygathrix nemaeus
The douc langur is one of the most colorful of all primate species. Their body is largely gray agouti (each individual hair is gray, black and white). Their thighs are black, but the lower part of their legs from the knees down are reddish orange. They have black hands, feet and shoulders, with a striking white tail, throat and cheeks.
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