[Mostly] Wordless Wednesday 8/31/11

Hello, it's time for another [Mostly] Wordless Wednesday!

This is an elephant at the Denver Zoo. I really don't have much else to say about this guy, so I could technically make this a [Completely] Wordless Wednesday. Instead, I will offer you some random elephant facts:

1. Despite the size of their ears, elephants have rather poor hearing.
2. Their eyesight is also poor.
3. They can swim long distances.
4. An elephant was executed for murder in Erwin, TN in 1916. If you'd like to read about Murderous Mary, you can click here, but be warned that there is a sad picture (possibly a phony, if you read the entire article) and the story is somewhat disturbing.
5. Tessie the Elephant was a golf caddy at the Broadmoor, a gift from Rajaf of Najpur. Ultimately, he found her a new home when he built the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.

Know any interesting pachyderm facts?

[Mostly] Wordless Wednesday 8/3/11

Hello, and welcome to Wordless Wednesday! Before I post today's photo, I wanted to let you know that I'm the guest poster over at Arlee Bird's Tossing it Out today. Hop on over to read about how I got involved in the original A to Z Challenge and how the Visitor's Follow-up Challenge came about. Leave a comment if you like and make friendly-like!

The following photo is a cute little meerkat from the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, who appeared to be standing guard over his buddies, who were passed out in a big ol' snuggly pile under a log.

Isn't he the cutest? I believe he was talking some major smack to me, though. Had he walked, it would have been with a swagger. I don't know if he was being punished by exclusion or if he truly was on guard. He stood there the entire time at parade rest.

This photo was taken at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, here in Colorado Springs. It sits up on Cheyenne Mountain. Bet you've never walked around a hillier zoo! A day at this place is a fantastic workout. It was originally opened by Spencer and Julie Penrose, two people who were responsible for creating much of the city. The first animals there actually came from Spencer Penrose's own private pet stock, as he had a fondness for collecting animals on his numerous travels and keeping them in his resort hotel, the Broadmoor. When a monkey attacked a child and other complaints came in, he had to find a new home for the boa constrictor in the furnace room, the monkey and the elephant golf caddy who helped out on the Broadmoor golf course (not kidding), along with any other critters he came up with over time. He built a tiny little train going up the mountain from the Broadmoor so he could escort his guests up to view his animals. Don't you wish you had that kind of expendable income?

Have you ever been to an unusual zoo? Have you been to the Broadmoor or Cheyenne Mountain Zoo?