Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Where all the Animals Have Names
What to do? I had checked out of my B and B in Palmer and the sun had finally come out after 10 straight days of rain. I headed my little purple (yes, purple!) rental car south toward Anchorage on my way to the airport. I was headed Outside on a late evening flight to Dallas.
Rain in Anchorage and the Valley is not that unusual in late August. (My rain suit had more than paid for itself.) This year, however, the amount had been exceptional and had caused severe flooding in the Valley and on up toward Talkeetna and Denali. My schedule had been flexible, of necessity, and now I thought I really did not want to waste even one minute of this wonderful Alaskan sunshine.
The airport in Anchorage is south of the city and so is the Alaska Zoo. It was right on the way and my flight didn’t leave till late. I love animals so what better way to spend a sunny afternoon? I am headed for the Alaska Zoo.
This is a small zoo that started out as a refuge for wild orphans so the majority of its denizens are Arctic animals. You'll see moose, caribou, sheep, wolves, musk oxen, mountain goats and several different types of bears, including polar, grizzly and black bears. All of the animals have names and the keepers talk with them as they go about their chores. Wonderful trees shade the grounds. The pace is slow and relaxed (just like the rest of Alaska). The circular pathways wind in and out among the exhibits and there is a small café where you can stop for a light lunch or a cup of coffee. There are also benches along the paths for just relaxing.
I love wolves! The Alaska Zoo has a pack of young wolves that have been raised from infancy. I was lucky enough to be there at feeding time to watch the keepers scent the enclosure with different oils for their amusement and stimulate them with play after they had eaten. The keepers played with them as if they were large dogs. They are, however, wild animals and must be respected as such. At a bit more than four months of age, they are already getting almost too big for play with humans. They are such magnificent creatures.
On this particular day the official zoo photographer was in the enclosure with the keepers taking pictures of the wolves…or trying to. I was on the outside trying to do the same. He was busy trying to get his shots and the wolves were playfully taking his camera bag down from the shade he had placed it on top of or trying to jump up on him to see what he was doing. I met him later on the grounds and we had an interesting conversation about the joys and perils of being the official zoo photographer as he showed me the teeth marks and tears in his camera bag resulting from his earlier wolf encounter.
So, if you would like to spend a peaceful afternoon in a lovely wooded park with some of Alaska’s most beautiful animals, or if you've missed seeing Arctic wildlife on your Alaskan adventure, you'll find it at this small zoo, where all the animals have names.
For more information about this unique Alaskan experience: http://www.alaskazoo.org/
