Zoo Adventure

We take Rayleigh to the zoo often! She absolutely loves her zoo trips. She enjoys being outside in general but then add other people and the animals to see and she has it made! It's a great family thing for Michael and I to do with her and we also like taking her with her grandmas!

Last Saturday Michael went golfing with Gpa so Susie (Lovie) and I took Rayleigh to the zoo for a little bit. We started out by going through the meerkats, red koalas and that row and then hit up the tropical island building. Bug didn't enjoy it inside the humid building so we took her through quickly and then out to the long back deck where the flamingos and tortoises are.

headed from there to the Oklahoma Trails. On our way to the OK Trails we heard some roaring so headed into the Cat Forest. First up we saw a gorgeous tiger pacing by the fence, Bug was starting to drift off for her morning nap at this point. That is, until she heard that tiger start roaring. Loud, powerful roaring. I thought she might freak a little but she really liked it! Then we headed through the rest of the Cat Forrest seeing lots of little cats, snow leopards lounging, another tiger asleep, couldn't find a few like always and then we get to the jaguars. Orange and black spotted, a momma and her 1 year old cub. Rayleigh got to see them play with each other for a little bit before she finally conked out for her nap.

Next we went through the Oklahoma Trails. Our favorite part of the Oklahoma City Zoo! We saw all of our usuals out playing - bobcats, cougars, raccoons, swift fox, badger, brown bears (one swimming & one right up on the glass) and then we headed to the main indoor building of the OK Trails... you know, the one that you can see the brown bear on one side and the black bears and otters on the other side? First thing we do when we get inside is change Bug's diaper (the joys of parenting!) and then she's hungry. Luckily, I had pumped a bottle that morning and was prepared; good thing because this building was busy! We're walking through quickly and Lovie is feeding Bug and a bench opens up near the exit doors so we go sit there so Bug can eat. We're talking away and don't really notice but a crowd is ganging up around the door.

Suddenly, there are over 50 people in this building and no one is leaving. Right next to us there is a zoo official telling the crowd that a chimpanzee has gotten out of his exhibit and into the dry moat that surrounds his exhibit! This exact issue happened the previous Monday and Lovie & I were just talking about it on the way to the zoo! It's kind of hectic and I'm searching the crowd to see if there's someone who might need the bench more than I do. Kids are playing, babies crying, mom's looking stressed, dad's looking upset and grandparents looking like they just want to go home! And then there's Lovie & I just sitting there playing with Bug waiting it out.

Luckily this only lasted about 30-45 minutes and then they let everyone out. It looked like over 100 people leaving this building all at the same time!! The zoo official said, "The issue is not resolved but it is no longer a threat." I would like to know when it was a threat if the issue is the same? Oh well, it was a new zoo adventure for Bug!