This past weekend, I visited Cougar Mountain Zoo in Issaquah, Washington. I went with my mum and a good friend to celebrate my upcoming birthday. Originally, we planned to visit Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium. However, my dad wanted to go there with us, and he was unable to spend the day with us. My mom remembered hearing about a neat little zoo in Issaquah, and we happened to have a coupon for it in the entertainment book, so off we went.
This zoo has to be the niftiest little zoo! It focuses on endangered and threatened species in seven main worlds: large macaws, cranes, reindeer, mountain lions, lemurs, antelopes, and cheetahs. I didn't see a cheetah when I was there (they won't have them until 2004), but all the other animals were delightful. At the reindeer habitat, they sold little cups of apples, so I spent all my singles on apples to throw to the reindeer, which were more than happy to receive a treat from me.
I think the favorite animals there for all of us were the ring tailed lemurs. In the enclosure, there were thirteen of them (my favorite number!). When we first went to the lemur cage, all thirteen of them were curled up together on a little platform :-) Later on, when we came by, the lemurs were frolicking everywhere. They also made the cutest little mewing noise. Late in the afternoon, the zoo keeper came around to do enrichment with the lemurs and give a talk. On the day we went, she took carrots in to the lemurs and let them eat the carrots. I tell you, there is nothing cuter than a little ring tailed lemur gnawing on a carrot.
I really enjoyed my trip. I love animals so much! Maybe someday I'll be a volunteer zoo keeper.