Denver Zoo, Colorado


The Denver Zoo - Colorado

Peacock - Common Peafowl (Pavo cristatus) - Originally from India and Sri Lanka. One beautiful peacock is posing at the Denver Zoo. The gorgeous fanned train of feathers is something to see. It has a glittering pattern of eyespots that can't be missed. Their diet consists of seeds, fruit and other plants. There is a fan-shaped crown on the head.

Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) - Africa, south of the Sahara. They have a black muzzle and a black tip on their short tail. Also called the laughing hyena, their long-distance calling sounds like laughter, being very loud, and can be heard a long distance. This is the largest of the hyena family and live in large packs called a clan. They dig burrows to sleep in.

Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) - Africa south of the Sahara, Arabia, Iran, Turkestan. This cheetah was walking through the grass. Their speed is fast in short spurts sometimes as fast as 70 mph. Their spots are rather evenly spaced and solid black on a cream to ochre colored background.

Lesser or Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens) - China - This cute Panda mostly sleeps the day away and then hunts for bamboo, fruit, grass and nuts at night.. They live in Central and Eastern Himalayas in the mountains.

Tri-Colored Squirrel.(Callosciurus prevostii) live in Southern Africa. They eat fruit, seeds and nuts, but don't store them away as in cooler parts of the United States, since this squirrel lives in the tropics and can get food all year round.

Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) Alaska. Two Polar Bear Cubs were born to Kavek and Voda on November 25, 2004. Koda and Nuka were the names of the cubs. These carnivores wander large areas looking for seals and fish to eat, which is their main diet.. Their fur is a thick yellowish-white. The body is slender with a rather long neck. The hind legs are longer than the front legs.

Black Crowned Crane (Balearica pavonina) - Africa in swampy areas.

The Asian Black Bear - "Moon Bear" (Ursus thibetanus) - From Pakistan to northern India, to China and the Indochinese peninsula, north as far as Mongolia and Amur region of Russia. There is a white Y on their chest that fan out from its shoulders. There ears are large. Around their face is a mane of long hair five or six inches long. This bear does not truely hibernate, but just has an inactive period.

Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) - Africa south of the Sahara, Arabia, Iran as far as Turkestan. The Cheetah is the fastest of all cats reaching 70 mph for short durations, but tiring fast. They have high muscular shoulders and very long legs. They have keen sight

Red Kangaroo (Macropus rufus) - Australia. Kangaroo peeking out from behind a fallen tree. This is the largest marsupial. They live in groups called "mobs". The "mob" is made up of "roos" (kangaroos). They can jump six to eight feet high. Their long tapered tail helps them to balance when hopping. The female gives birth after 33 days. The tiny "joey" has to climb up into her pouch to continue growing for about 240 days and then she stays with the young one for 120 more days.

Big Horn Sheep (Ovis canadensis) - Northwestern United States in high mountain pastures. The males have huge spiral curled horns up to 3 1/2 feet. The females have very short horns compared to the male which are more like those of a mountain goat. The males engage in butting contests for higher rank and the noise can be heard over a mile away.

Crested Streamers - Southern Screamer (Chauna torquata) - Bolivia and Southern Brazil to Northern Argentina. They do not have webbed feet but very long toes to help them balance as they wade on floating vegetation in fresh water. The small, hooked bill is used for eating leaves, buds and green plants. They have a spur on the elbow which they use for protection. They are noisy when flying as well as walking on the ground..

Hooded Crane (Grus monachus)

Chilean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis) - South America from Peru and Uruguay south to Tierra del Fuego. The Chilean Flamingo has a light pink body, dark pink tail feathers, blue legs and red knee joints, with black under feathers. The flamingos long neck has 27 elongated vertebra. A Giraffe only has 7 vertebra. They move their beak from side to side sifting food as it goes. Their diet includes crustacians, algae and microscopic animals.

Red River Hogs come from Central African forests. They have long ear tassels, a white strip of hair down the backs and a black cheek patch. They are good swimmers but love to wallow in the mud more. Piglets are brown with light yellow stripes.

Andean Condor is the largest bird of prey in the world. This Condor can glide on the currents for hours. They come from South America in the Andes Mountains and can be seen along the coast of Peru.

Mishmi Takin (Budorcas Taxicolor) were named for India's Mishmi Hills. They live in rugged country in Asia. Their thick, oily fur protects them from the elements.

Bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus) - Africa.

Alligator Snapper (Macroclemys temminckii) - This is one of the largest freshwater turtles. They live in swamps, rivers and lakes of Eastern United States.

Two Ostrich pushing for position.

Black Rhinoceros ( Diceros Bicornis) - East Africa and South Africa. The Black Rhinoceros has a smaller head than the White Rhino, and no hump at the base of the neck. The rhino drinks daily. It could charge at any time being very aggressive. Their eye sight is poor, but their sense of smell and hearing are exceptionally good. They can swivel their ears to puck up sounds. The tail has a tassel on the end. They are twelve feet line. They weigh anywhere from 2000 to 3000 pounds.