The zoo is one of the "open range" types and consists of two "continents" - North America and Africa. There are a total of 5 or 6 miles of pathways in the 500 acre park. They really did it well for the animals - if they prefer not being gawked at by people animals, they spend their time as far away from the viewing decks as they can. And that could be 1/4 mile away or more. This is the only "open range" zoo I have ever been too and although most of the animals were a good distance from the viewing areas, I really think the animals were far more impressive that those you see in "a caged in" zoo. We shall visit other zoos' of this type as we work ourselves around the country.
A really "cool" exhibit in North America was the polar bear pool and that's the only picture on that continent I took where you can actually discern what animal was being photographed.
The giraffe exhibit in Africa was a bit more confined which made getting pictures a little easier. Good for the people animals but not so good for the giraffes. I think there were a total of four giraffes in the exhibit. They are just as goofy looking up close as they are on TV.
The elephants have a huge pasture to roam in. A drinking water pond was built right up against the viewing deck so the elephants spent a considerable amount of time within camera range. There were a few elephants way off in the distance - I got the impression they were "at home" there.
I'd never viewed a behavior they exhibited... there was a pile of really dry looking hay on the dirt pathway you see in the pictures. The elephants would scoop up a pile and carry it to the pool - you can see the pile to the left of the elephant. They would eat some right there at the shoreline and then get a drink.
Other than those shown, we saw perhaps a dozen or so other animals but these were the only "closeups" we could get a picture of. Bottom line to the zoo is... if you happen to be in the Ashboro area, take a day to visit it.
Last fall as we drove South out of Maine, the fall foliage was chasing us. Now we are on our way back up to Maine and we will be chasing the Spring foliage. From here its an overnight er in PA, a few days in my hometown of Pittsfield, MA to visit family, up to NH for a little warranty work on the trailer and finally, on May 1, we will arrive in Trenton Maine which is just on the other side of the bridge from Bar Harbor. this is where we will be until the end of October. BEWARE LOBSTERS!
http://www.barharborcampingresorts.com/content/4004/NARROWS_TOO/
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