Adventures at the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium: Part 1

Through these stories and pictures, you can recount my adventures with my family at the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium.

For years, one of my favorite activities has been going to the zoo. In fact, as a little kid my family use to go once a week! I guess you could consider the Shoop family to be regulars at the Pittsburgh Zoo. Over the holidays we figured we should go back to our roots and visit all of the animals we had not seen seen in so long.

As I mentioned earlier, I love the zoo (by my family's zoo attendance of once a week, you probably could have guessed that). When I was little I just enjoyed looking at the animals, but over the years my fascination with animals and zoos has continued to grow. Seeing animals in person that are seen almost exclusively on T.V., feeds my passion of learning about animals. Through learning about animals I have uncovered a newfound love of photographing animals.

History of the PGH Zoo and PPG Aquarium

The Pittsburgh Zoo first opened its doors on June 14, 1898 allowing a flood of people to enter and experience nature in a completely different way. When you set foot in the zoo, you are in the presence of approximately 475 different species of animals. The Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium is one of six major zoo and aquarium compounds in the United States. Additions are always being made to the zoo. Most recently, the Jungle portion of the zoo has been created. The jungle contains multiple new animal exhibits giving zoo-goers the ability to emerge themselves into a tropical new world.

The Lone Tiger

When we first entered the zoo, the first animals we were drawn to were the tigers. The tigers have always been one of my favorite animals to see as it is astounding to be so close to an animal so many people fear. The tigers that are inhabitants at the Pittsburgh Zoo are Amur tigers. These tigers are considered an endangered species, but zoos around the world are attempting to protect these creatures. If living in the wild, an Amur Tiger's lifespan is approximately 10 to 15 years, but under the watch and care of humans, these tigers can live up to 22 years. Photographing the tigers is one of the most exciting things for me since the vivid orange stripes stand out around the gloomy grey and neutral backgrounds of the animals enclosures. When we were gazing at the tigers, we noticed one walking extremely close to a crowd of people towards an elevated part of the enclosure. Seeing an opportunity to snap a picture, my mom and I raced to the roaming tiger. Once we reached the overlook the tiger was on his way back towards us so I whipped out my camera and started taking pictures. It was incredible to see how close the tiger was getting to the party of observers. Standing beside some younger children and seeing the mix of excitement and fear in their eyes as the wild animal stumbled closer was both amusing and adorable. The tiger being so close gave me the opportunity to see the minute details of the animal. The large paws disguised by mud from the recent rain storm, stomped around performing a show for onlookers.

The Posh Flamingos

After visiting with the tigers, the Shoops' moved on to the flamingos. Similar to the tigers, the flamingos create beautiful pictures to be captured with their different shades of pink feathers. Seeing the tones of pink, red, and orange makes sense when you learn that flamingo happens to be the latin word for "flame." When flamingos are first hatched, their feathers start out as white and grey. Depending on how much shrimp the birds eat, determines the complexion of the plumage. The flamingos although beautiful, have never been my favorite creatures at the zoo. For some reason I have always considered the flamingos to be the most arrogant species in the animal kingdom. My thinking for this theory is based on the fact they stand on one leg. Balancing on one leg leads me to believe the flamingos are avoiding the dirty ground as much as possible. They would rather by inside, in a pristine room, not outside on the muddy ground or in the murky water. I know this conclusion is strange (maybe ridiculous), but it is one I have considered since I was little!

Even though the flamingos are not my preferred animal, I have to admit they are beautiful and unique. Seeing all of the different hues of pink scattered throughout the flamingos down is a feature I do not believe is present in any other animal. The flamingos add a beam of bright colors to the zoo even on rainy, cloudy days.

Part two of the Shoop family's adventures at the zoo will be posted soon!