More photos from Zion Wildlife Gardens

[vilakins]

I got my photos from Zion Wildlife Gardens back and have put them up in an LJ photo gallery. They're all on one page there, and the new ones seem to be a bit brighter than the digital ones. Here are a few of my favourites.




One of the orange Bengal cubs demanding attention because her sister's getting her tummy scritched (that photo's in the gallery).


Another shot of them.


Zion is said to be the tamest lion in the world. He misses Craig when he's away, so much so that Craig calls him on the phone so Zion can hear his voice. Zion's been in several Discovery channel ads with his sister Shia with whom he shares his area. They couldn't bear to be separated, so Shia was neutered so they could stay together.

Zion is to play Aslan in the film 'The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe'. It's not a hard role, as his face, head, paws, and movements have been filmed so he can be recreated with CGI.


The little royal white girl, Aotea, biting the hell out of my backpack while the boy, Tane, joins in her game with Greg.




The cubs playing


The last one I took in the cub enclosure--the little boy Tane playing with their stuffed toy--and it's so cute!

Check out the gallery for more pictures of lions (white and otherwise), tigers and cubs (orange and white).

Comments

[snowgrouse.livejournal.com]

YAY!:) Thanks for putting them up, made me very happy.

When I browsed the lion pics and said to Noki "look, lions", pointing at the screen, she glanced at them with a bored expression, huffed and turned away. But when I said "tigers"... she perked up and browsed them with me and purred like mad! In fact, she's still purring and looking at the screen, not me:).

*Hugs*

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

How intriguing! Tessa and Claudia sometimes watch the TV program quite intently and ignore it at other times. I'll have to take more notice of what interests them.

[snowgrouse.livejournal.com]

On Saturday Noki was bored by sharks, but stared at the screen intently when a vole was skipping and bouncing about:D.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I think she knows what you like. Cats are definitely telepathic on some level.

[snowgrouse.livejournal.com]

Nah, I think it was because voles and small birds (pigeons in the same program interested her) are natural cat food, whereas sharks aren't:).

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

But white tigers aren't! ;-)

[snowgrouse.livejournal.com]

Ah, but that was recognition and pride of the species she thinks she is:).

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I tend to think of Claudia as a small lion and Tessa as a panther. :-) My Sigi and Petra were tigers though with their beautiful stripes. In the US, they even call tabbies tigers.

Tigers are stunningly beautiful, but Craig says that they're more dangerous and a lot less loyal than lions and can be treacherous. He's always more careful with them.

[snowgrouse.livejournal.com]

Tigers are stunningly beautiful, but Craig says that they're more dangerous and a lot less loyal than lions and can be treacherous. He's always more careful with them.

True. Wouldn't use the word treacherous myself, rather just "wild";). No wonder Noki noticed them, then, as she will probably rip my arm off one of these days...

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

On the Lionman TV program, (filmed over 2 months ago) Craig just got back from 10 days away in Thailand at conservation projects. The lions were all over him for cuddles and kisses (he kisses their mouths and noses!) but he had to lure the tigers over for a scritch and a hug by turning his back on them briefly which makes him look like attractive prey. :-P

she will probably rip my arm off one of these days...

There are two Serval cats there too; my pics probably aren't good as they were shy and far away, but they're still in my camera anyway). Diana, our guide, said that when she first went to work there, she asked what was the worst they could do when she went into their enclosure. Craig said, "Just a little scratch," but one day Diana found a possum that must have put a limb through; it was sliced clean off. Eep.

[hafren.livejournal.com]

Those pics are gorgeous!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm definitely going back; we often go to Paihia on holiday and that's only an hour away.

[kalypso-v.livejournal.com]

More pussies! Thank you!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

There are also two Serval cats in the park: Zoe and Silas. I took some pictures of them but they're still in the camera; besides, they're nocturnal, they were in their treehouse which was quite far away, and it was starting to rain slightly. Still, there's a tenuous B7 connection...

[entropy-house.livejournal.com]

OOh, they're *wonderful* pictures! The last one of the cub and his toy is *fantastic*! Thanks so much for sharing them.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I think it's my favourite. It was the last one on the film and when I heard the camera rewinding I was really worried I hadn't got it, because I knew it was good. I was delighted when I saw it, esp how the light caught the eye on the toy tiger.

[astrogirl2.livejournal.com]

So cute! Must look at the rest of the pics when I get a chance.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

They're on one gallery page and you can use the next button for a slideshow. I was really pleased with the ones I put up.

[trixieleitz]

If you put your head out the window, you should just be able to hear me squeeee-ing from there :)

Did you see the programme last night? Those cloud leopards were just gorgeous. Those markings! That tail!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I did see it! They were absolutely beautiful, all marbled and slender and lithe with big eyes and tails as long as they were. [wants to cuddle and play with them]

And the white tiger cubs were still tiny little worms two months ago. Poor little girl with no hair except for, weirdly, on her face. Greg said it was lucky I'd seen her last week as he knew I'd be worried about her otherwise.

Next week it's the last: a clip show of the best bits. I'm glad they're doing another series.