The Albuquerque Biopark Zoo is a wonderful, although often overlooked, destination that we have here in Albuquerque. I recently visited the zoo and was immediately reminded of all the wondrous animals that exist there. My journey was filled with amusement, amazement, and adventure. I got to see everything from a mighty lioness perched on a rock to an adorable baby chimpanzee making faces at the crowd. The zoo even has a week-and-a-half old giraffe named Malika. I also got to hold a rhinoceros horn and barely dodged a pooping raptor perched above my head.
Not only was the zoo exciting for me, it is also a place that cares for the animals amazingly well compared to other zoos I have visited. Each enclosure is spacious and has a habitat perfectly suited to the creature it houses. I was pleasantly surprised by how active the animals were and how healthy they appeared. The beautiful and organized paths and scenery impressed me as well. However, the thing that surprised me the most was that I had such a different experience from the last time I visited the zoo, which was only a couple of years ago. The zoo is always changing — there are always adorable babies being born and new exhibits being added. In fact, the zoo is currently constructing an enclosure for its first penguin exhibit, which is set to open this spring. The pictures below can only capture a small fraction of the experience, so if you haven’t visited the zoo in a while, maybe it is time for you to stop by and see what adventures await you.
A gorilla calmly observes zoo visitors. FACT: Gorillas can be identified by their unique nose prints.
A four-year-old orangutan named Pixel peeks out from under a blanket. FACT: Orangutans can live to be over 60 years old.
A baby siamang gibbon ape glances at its mother for approval as it learns how to climb. FACT: An adult siamang gibbon can spring 30 feet from one branch to another.
This angry adult siamang gibbon just finished fighting with another ape. FACT: Siamang gibbons sing every morning to remind nearby animals of territory lines.
A young chimpanzee playfully looks at passerby through the glass. FACT: Chimpanzees have 98.6% of the same DNA as humans, and they share many human characteristics.
The same baby chimpanzee entertains his human audience by dancing in front of the glass. FACT: Chimpanzees eat both plants and small animals.
Malika, a newborn giraffe (born on October 23), explores her enclosure. FACT: Giraffes are born around six feet tall, and they eventually reach heights of 15-19 feet.
Another young giraffe huddles close to an adult, presumably its parent. FACT: Giraffes can sprint up to 35 miles per hour.
An elephant takes a slow stroll across his enclosure. FACT: The elephant is the only known mammal that is incapable of jumping.
A tranquil lioness relaxes on a boulder. FACT: Lionesses are the hunters of the pride, while the male lions stay behind to protect their cubs and their territory.
Prairie dogs happily feast on a pumpkin in celebration of Halloween. FACT: Prairie dogs’ squeaks can convey more complex meanings than any other known animal language can.
