Las Vegas 2015: Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden

We arrived pretty early in Las Vegas, and after some breakfast we decided to take a walk. We ended up at the Mirage, where we visted Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden. It's an odd combination of Dolphins and Big Cats. It was a nice getaway from the hustle and bustle of the strip.

We saw the dolphins during a training session. They have an underwater viewing area where you can see the dolphins swimming by. That was really cool.

 This dolphin was posing for photos. It was neat to watch the dolphins. Some of them were playing with toys. Like typical kids one dolphin wanted to play with all the toys at once and didn't want to share.

Most of the cats were asleep. One of the handlers tried to wake up the female lions, but they weren't having it. I took a zoomed in photo of the male white lion's paw. It was so huge.

The black jaguar was awake, but this one was passed out. I enjoyed this place. Outdoors (warm), quiet, peaceful, and I got to see animals.

Animal World and Snake Farm Zoo--Again

Yeah, I've been a total slacker about posting this month. I'm going to try and catch up over the next week.

So my parents came to visit and we went to New Braunfels to see the Animal World and Snake Farm Zoo. My favorite part this time was feeding two cavies by hand.

This is a cavy. I imagine that the billybumbler in Stephen King's Dark Tower series looks something like this.

And here is one of the lions. The lions have really grown since we last saw them in February.

It was a hot day, and most of the animals were laying around, conserving energy. Ross spent a long time talking with the owner. He has some really big plans for the place. They are getting a wolf cub, and servals. And I think maybe another kind of big cat too. I can't remember. Update on Princess: she was sent away to a breeding program, and was supposed to come back. Well, Princess found a boyfriend. (She was only supposed to encourage another female to mate with the male.)  So she's moved in with her boyfriend and won't be back. I'll miss her, but I'm glad she found love.

Lion Cub Video

Here is a video of Ross playing with the lion cub. If you listen closely at 0:12 you can hear a puny little growl/roar. There might also be one at the very beginning.

Another Visit to the Snake Farm and Animal Zoo

We met Monica and Richard at the Snake Farm and Animal Zoo and had a grand old time.

Unlike the camel, the buffalo couldn't stick his head through the bars, so to touch I had to reach out my hand and he reached out his tongue. It was slick.

If Benjamin Franklin had had his way, the turkey would have been our national symbol. This guy kept puffing up and gobbling. He was fun, but that red stuff on his nose/neck is creepy/icky/gross.

There was only one peacock, and maybe 6 peahens. This was the most flamboyant peacock I have ever seen. He kept spreading his feathers and shakin' em as he approached the ladies. I got my best peacock pictures ever today. He just kept showing off.

Princess, the lesser anteater (or Tamandua), is off at a breeding program while they are remodeling. The zoo now has two white lion cubs. So adorable! And one of them was growling/roaring--it was too cute! The lion cubs were definitely the best part today.

One of the cubs (the female we think) was very spunky and interactive. She would run back and forth in her pen chasing Ross.

I was doing the football shuffle and it became unclear who was running who. She wore me out!

After spending two and a half hours at the zoo we had late lunch/early dinner at the tea house in Gruene. The food was delicious and afterward we were stuffed. We walked around town...they were having a little art festival/sale thingy (Guene Market Days.) Both the Zoo and Gruene were totally different from when we last went in September. In September both were empty. Today both were really bustling--the goats in the petting area weren't really interested in being fed. I had a great weekend and can't wait to go back. The lion cubs are currently 4 months old and weigh 45 pounds each. The keeper said they are gaining half a pound a day. I am looking forward to watching them grow up.