Now that the days are getting brighter and longer, I´m up again for wandering around. At the end of March we had very nice and warm weather (not so much now – it´s like winter has come back to show us that he´s not a sissy), and as I own an annual ticket for the Zoo I thought, why not go there and enjoy a beautiful day with wonderful animals!
As you can imagine, I made hundreds of photographs some of which I´m going to share with you in two or three posts as I´m taking you with me on a virtual walk through the Berlin Zoo.
We start our walk at the Lions gate in the west of the Zoo, near Bahnhof Zoo (see map above for details).
If you turn sharp left, you´re welcomed by one or two rhinos, mostly occupied with eating huge amounts of hay and other yummy stuff. This one clearly showed the visitors what it was thinking of us 😉
So I turned back and was greeted by much friendlier and gentle elephants, posing perfectly for my camera.
Right between those two areas there´s quite a big hill that has been build for the Siberian ibexes. Most of the time they blend perfectly in with the boulders and it´s a bit difficult to get a nice picture of them. This young one though did me the favor to stand perfectly against the foliage of the trees in the back.
We follow the path that leads to the always well-heated Giraffe´s house (a bliss on cold days!), but as it is a sunny and mild day, the giraffes don´t mind having a snack outside.
On the same terrain lives a pair of ground hornbills, beautiful birds that are extremely clever and playful. Give them a ball and they have fun with it the whole long day. Maybe they´re secretly training for the German national team 😉
Further along the path that leads to the south we reach the house where the monkeys live. I´m very fond of gorillas and was lucky to catch a glimpse of a young one looking pensively into space.
Also in the monkey´s house you can find one of my very favorite animals: the sloth! In this case, it´s a two-toed sloth (in contrast to the three-fingered one), and we´ve got a pair now in Berlin and are hoping for cute little baby sloths. If we´re lucky, you can bet that I´m going to stand before this enclosure a whole day!
Some of the next pictures show you nice examples of doting love which is accurately termed “Affenliebe” (monkey love) in German, emphasizing the touching care and love these animals show so obviously for their young ones.
Observing scenes like this, how could anyone doubt that animals do have feelings? I´m always absolutely baffled when confronted with people who believe in the absolute superiority of humans when it comes to emotions and feelings – how very, very ignorant they are…
Outside of the building there´s a another hill of boulders made for the baboons. I can stand here for hours and watch them play or chase each other, or practicing fur care and thus intensifying relationships and bonds with each other.
This picture is a bit out of focus but it´s one of my favorites I made that day.
Thank you for joining me on this walk and I hope you´ll look forward to the next part of my day at the zoo! Then we´re going to see all kinds of bears and Polar Wolves!
Thanks for becoming subscriber. Happy blogging.
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You´re welcome, Sally! I look forward to read your future posts! 🙂 Happy blogging!
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The Siberian ibex, sloth, young monkey and giraffe look so healthy and alert (except sleepy eyed sloth!) You are a wonderful writer and have such diverse topics. Life has been fun and busy for me. I hope your eyes and health are improved, dear Sarah. xo
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Thanks so much, Robin! Our zoo animals really look all very healthy – you should see their food supplies: just the best! Everytime I pass the stations were there bowls and such are prepared (big windows allow the visitors to watch), I´m a bit jealous 😉 But then, I can go wherever I want to go (or nearly) and they can´t so I think we´re even (in a way).
xoxo ❤
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I can tell the animals are well taken care of, Sarah! I am proud of this Berlin, Germany zoo. The Zookeeper’s Wife book was good about the Warsaw smaller zoo and all the people (200-300 Jewish people) saved by this couple. I enjoyed the film and wondered has it come out in your country? Do people look favourably upon the subject? Hugs xoxo 💟
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The film hasn’t come out yet but I´m now looking very much forward to it! Thank you for this lovely suggestion, Robin!
I´m not quite sure what you mean with your last question though… 😕 Could you explain a bit?
Wish you a very lovely weekend with lots of spring flowers and sunshine to enjoy! Hugs! xoxo ❤
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I was wondering about zoos. There are natural environment advocates for zoo animals here. I always thought zoos displayed animals that need protection from extinction, Sarah. I should have separated the film from my zoo comment.
Thank you for your thoughtful wishes and beautiful post, too. Hope you also have a happy, relaxing weekend! ❤ 🙂
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Ah, now I see. Thanks for explaining, Robin! 🙂
Yes, there are also natural environment advocates here in Germany but their voices are not as loud and clear as they used to be. I think that is mainly because our zoos have tried to become friendlier places not only for the visitors but in the first place for the animals. There is a series of documentaries about many different zoos throughout in Germany that have displayed how the animals are treated and cared for, aired regularly on tv. I think this has influenced many people´s thinking about them. I used to have very mixed feelings about keeping animals in zoos but have come to understand that it is not always as bad as one would think. Of course, conditions have to be right, and there are many zoos in the world that should be closed immediately.
And to be quite honest with you, as much as I enjoy going to our Zoo now, there are corners I don´t really like to visit because I can see how distressed the animals are, mainly because they don´t have enough space and that´s mostly with the big cats. My heart bleeds everytime I see this…
But then, we just need to watch our news and we´ll notice that someday very soon, zoos might be the only places on earth that holds all these different and beautiful animals as we humans destroy the environment more and more with each day… So many lions die of TB in South Africa, it won´t be long until I´m glad I can see them in the zoo, I fear.
So sorry for this little rant!
Wish you a beautiful weekend and 1st of May! 🙂 ❤ xoxo
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Very nice photos, Sarah. The nerve of winter showing up to show he’s not a sissy, ha ha. I know how that works. I also can’t believe how some people do not get or cannot see that animals have feelings, compassion and a great deal of wisdom. I pity such people. Thanks for taking us on a glorious walk with the animals!
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Thank you so much, Lana! 🙂
Yeah, winter has become quite the dare-devil here 😉 He´still hanging around, too lazy to get up on his feet and just leave! 😀
Pity is the right thing for these people, though I sometimes secretly think a smack on the back of their heads might be good too 😉
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Such a lovely day for a walk through the Berlin Zoo, Sarah 🙂 Giraffes always steal my heart—BUT that rhino’s butt is priceless 😉 And yes, totally agree about animals have feelings/emotions ❤ Looking forward to tagging along with you in part 2! 🙂 ♥ Jackie@KWH
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Thank you so much, Jackie! I´m glad you had fun! 😀 Giraffes are just awesome, right? I myself am quite tiny thus I admire them totally 😉
So glad that we see the same when it comes to animals and their feelings! 🙂
Part 2 should be coming along next week 😉
Have a lovely day and a perfect week! 🙂 xoxo ❤
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Yup, awesome… totally ❤ even the thought of those lanky, long-necked gentle-giant giraffe beauties!!! Looking forward to your visit to the zoo part 2! Wishing you a satisfyingly-near-perfect week 🙋🎶😎💌😍🌼🤗💜 Jackie@KWH
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Thank you, Jackie! 🙂 Next time we´ll see some animals that are a bit wilder in nature 😉 Have a an awesome week filled with creativity and fun! 🙂 xoxo ❤
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Looking forward to it! ❣😍💕 ❤ 🙂 💜 Jackie@KWH
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Not a fan of Zoo’s, but indeed beautiful pictures.
XxX
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Thank you, Patty! 😄 xxx
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I can see why you like that last picture – those guys are just adorable.
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Thank you, Sarah! 🙂
I was tempted to climb over the wall and hug this little family! Of course, they would not have welcomed it, and I most likely would not have been able to climb over it in the first place 😉
Wish you and your loved ones a happy and peaceful easter! 🙂
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Thank you – and the same to you and yours!
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Thank you! 😄🐥
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Thanks for the tour! A trip to the zoo is always a treat.
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You´re welcome, Ann! And thank you for walking with me! 🙂
Wish you a happy and peaceful easter holiday! 🙂
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You, too!!
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Thanks! 🙂
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What a fun trip to the Berlin zoo… really enjoyable! 😃 And it’s also educational, thanks Sarah. 👍 🐂 🐒 🐿 A great day we had and I appreciate it! ❤ 🌻 😎 Lovely post. 😉
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Thank you very much, Iris! I´m so glad you enjoyed our walk through the zoo 😀
There´s always something new to learn I feel, when I go to the zoo 🙂
Do yo have a favorite animal? Maybe I could add its picture next time. 🙂 🐼🐾 ❤
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You are most welcome, Sarah. 🙂 I’m fond of koalas… naturally very Aussie eh? They are so cute!! 😃 Have a great weekend and Happy Easter! ❤
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Aww – koalas! They are so adorable! My grandmother gifted me with one stuffed animal koala when I was little – very unusual for that time and this country, and I still have it 🙂 I just love their fluffy ears and cute noses! Unfortunately there are no koalas in Berlin. The nearest zoo that has some is in Cologne.
Wish you a beautiful and creative weekend and Happy Easter, too, Iris! 😃💕🐨 ❤
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Thank you for the wonderful tour through the Berlin Zoo. The pictures were excellent – I look forward to seeing more. Happy Week Sarah. 🙂
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You´re very welcome, Terry! And thank you for joining me on this walk! 🙂 What is you favorite animal again? Maybe I can add a picture of it 🙂 Have a lovely and peaceful easter holiday, my friend! 🙂
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Well, I would have to say I am drawn to the giraffes – the picture you already have is wonderful! 🙂
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Ah, giraffes are great! They have such beautiful and dreamy eyes! 🙂
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Your ‘welcome to the zoo’ is hilarious! 😀
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Thank you, Laura! 🙂 I kind of liked the rhino for its attitude 😉
Have a lovely and peaceful easter holiday! 🌸🌷🐾
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And you, also.
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Thanks! 🙂
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Wonderful tour Sarah! I have to add, I love your sense of humour! I had a fun journey!Truly!
And yes, it is ignorant to think that these innocent cuties and beauties lack feelings!
Eager to continue the journey:)
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Thank you so much, Divya! Hope we will walk through a zoo together someday! (And see the front as well as the back of a rhino 😉 )
So glad you feel the same about animals and their feelings!
Wish you a perfect easter holiday! 🙂 💕🌷🌸
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I so love your photos Sarah. The gorilla and monkeys are definitely my favourites. I think trip to Auckland Zoo may be on my agenda as soon as the weather improves. I’m looking forward to seeing the rest of your trip to the Zoo. xxxxx 🙂
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Thank you so much, Su! 🙂
Oh, yes, please visit the Zoo and come back with awesome photos to share!!! I´m already looking forward to it! 😀 xxxxxxx 🐵
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🙂 I’m getting excited about the idea too now!! xxxx
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It looks like a great day at the zoo, Sarah. I stayed near there when I visited your city getting off at the train stop for the zoo. Nice area. Maybe next time I can make time to visit the zoo. Cheers
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It was a fantastic day, Chris! 🙂
It´s a very lively area, famous not only for its nice sides 😉 Have you ever heard of Christiane F. “We children from Bahnhof Zoo”? It´s a real eye-opener.
Next time you come, we will visit the Zoo together! 🙂 Cheers!
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Next time!!!!
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🙂
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Thank you for a trip to the zoo, Sarah. I enjoyed. 😁
I did some minor changes on the poem we spoke of, but I no longer have your email address. Mine is: mcclark729@gmail.com.
If you could drop me a line, I’ll send you the updated version. 🙂💜
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You´re welcome, Cathy! 🙂 Love going for a walk with friends 😀
Will write you that email and am looking forward to read the changes! 🙂 ❤
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😊❤️
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