Rtas' zoo pics

Advicot wrote:

You're at it again Benjamin! Shooting wildlife

Very nice, I have always enjoyed seeing these primates at my closest zoo, which is a very, very good zoo and I am sure many would agree.

Which zoo is it ? Can you show me its website ? I always enjoy discovering new zoos even if I cannot visit them

It's Chester Zoo, a zoo you've most certainly heard of. I was supposed to visit it this summer but due to the virus I won't get chance. I'll see if I can dig some photos out, from my last visit.

Aardvark, anoa, babirussa, aye-aye, komodo dragon, hyrax, tree kangaroo, sun bear, black crested macaque... it looks like an AMAZING zoo

I truly recommend it when the virus pandemic ends and we can all resume to our normal habits. I have probably been about 5 times and have seen new animals each time I've been. It is quite expensive but definitely worth it. The only downside is that they don't sell decent animal toys, the only ones they do sell are cheap china made figures.

Amazing how you catched these so beautiful photos.
I espesially love the first one.
Bravo Ben, well done

Thanks Kosta ! That's one of my favourite too, that's why I started with it.

Species : Reticulated python

Spot : Kerdanet's terrarium, Brittany, France
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This python was photographed in a very small reptile centre known to look after reptiles seized by the police from illegal trade. I already talked you about it in my collection topic. The guy who is running this place is authorized to take care of venomous, deadly snakes and as a consequence, he keeps very rare and interesting species such as the western diamondback rattlesnake, the black mamba, the indian cobra, the puff adder and the south American rattlesnake. Compared to them, that reticulated python looks like a gentle giant ! Thus, this picture does not show the most spectacular species kept in this reptile centre but it is one of the best I took there. I especially like the eyes of this snake, which reminds me a lot Kaa's hypnotic eyes from the jungle book !

Very beautiful snake Ben, I have seen this species at Chester zoo

Adam, yes, they are pretty common in zoos. Some can be huge as it is the longest snake in the world. The longest I saw was almost 6 m This one is small in comparison.

Species : Manul

Spot : Pont-Scorff zoo, Brittany, France
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Here is a less common species than I usually show. The Pallas's cat or Manul is a small wild cat native to central Asia where it lives in caves or burrows and hunts small rodents. This one was photographed in Pont-Scorff zoo which is renowed for its small cat collection. This zoo has a long history of financial difficulties, it changed ownership many times and has recently become a wildlife rehabilitation centre.

The official grumpy cat! I love these, they are very beautiful felines.

Species : Sun bear

Spot : Trégomeur zoo, Brittany, France


The sun bear is one of my favourite animal species. This one was shot in the same zoo as the snow leopard, that one which is exclusively focused on Asian wildlife. I have known this particular individual since my childhood when I saw her (she is a female) in Vincennes' zoo in Paris, almost 20 years ago. She was then transferred to Trégomeur zoo in Britanny and I was happy to meet her again. Her name is Malaka and she is 30 years old : she is the second oldest sun bear in Europe.

Bonus pic : a portrait of Malaka
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She's very beautiful Ben, Chester zoo has a breeding pair called Milli and Toni

Nice again

Species : Clouded leopard

Spot : Pont-Scorff zoo, Brittany
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This clouded leopard was shot in the same zoo as the manul cat, that one which no longer exists and has been replaced by a wildlife rescue centre. This individual is a young one and was very playful. On this picture, it tries to look menacing and fierce like mom and dad !

Amazing!

Thanks Kostas !

Never seen one, but that particular character looks like my domestic cat. I really fancy doing zoo visits with certain members of the forum it'd be so cool!

Surprising, they tend to be more and more commons in zoos. Indeed, it would be great !

Species : Hamadryas baboon

Spot : Pont-Scorff zoo, Brittany
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That's not a beautiful photo, that's even a pretty ugly one, but definitely one of the funniest ! That male baboon is naughty, it seems like he is telling me "look at that sexy ass, bro !" Well, I'm sorry buddy but we don't have the same tastes !

How lovely, a baboon's bum. Moving swiftly on, I have never seen Hamadrayas baboons but I have seen Guinea and Olive at two of my other local zoos