Saturday June 27th was a busy day at southern Michigan’s Binder Park Zoo.  The annual 5K Cheetah Chase had eager runners passing giraffes early in the morning and later in the afternoon I made a presentation about America’s Best Zoos with a signing afterward.  Fortunately, the weather was near perfect and lacked the humid bite so often a daily requirement for Midwestern summers.

In between the events were plenty of visitors enjoying the beautiful day the best way possible – touring the excellent zoo!  Battle Creek, Michigan is hardly on the short list of places expected to see a well executed re-creation of an African savanna, but the fictional Zuri National Park serves as the medium to transport guests from an American forest to an open East African plain.  On top of the 18 acre main antelope filled expanse, winding paths stroll past monkeys, birds, wild dogs, and African farm.  Got lots of great pictures, especially of the giraffe-human interaction, so here’s a few.

P.S.  Forgot two blog links last time.  Even though they are in my blogroll, I think they deserve a noteworthy mention.  First, Paul Becker is working on a project examining the sociology of zoos.  As he and his wife Cathy visit zoos, they write about each experience with insightful and honest observations.  Read them here – Animal Ruminations.
Second, who doesn’t love baby animals?  I mean seriously, is it even possible to say “ugly” and “baby animal” in the same sentence?  For all the cute and cuddly faces Zoo Borns is the place to be.

Wild Africa's Monkey Valley is home to colobus and black mangabeys

Cooled rocks, plenty of shade, and several misters keep the cold weather cats cool in the summer

Many zoos now offer giraffe feedings, but only a couple are in the same league as Binder Park's

An impressive set of horns awaits at the African farm