Last week I treated myself to a glorious afternoon at the zoo, sans dogs, or any other obligations, just my camera and I.  It was cold, but hadn’t snowed yet, and the animals were lively.  Some learned person and I shared the same pace and frequently ended up standing in front of the same enclosure. He told me some astonishing facts about the animals, which in turn led to my decision to devote this week to tidbits of zoology.

The photos are from last Tuesday as well as several other previous visits. One reason I like to go to the zoo so often has to do with the fact that it is a place that provides an escape from lily-white Portland. You get to mingle and talk to people you would otherwise have little occasion to meet, and everyone is in a good mood because of the beauty of the surround. I always learn something, or feel more connected.

And here are some elephant facts that I, in my ignorance, found surprising. Mostly gleaned from here:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/14-fun-facts-about-elephants-14572816/

Females can get pregnant up to the age of 5o and a pregnancy lasts 22 months. Oy.

They live in matriarchic  groups of 15 or so, young males leave at age 12 or so.

They can get sunburn, which is why they always spray dust or chips on their back.

They hate ants. No wonder, if I imagine fire ants crawling up my trunk. This, of course, is clever evolution; acacia trees that are hosts to ants will thus provide leaves for other species to eat….

And here is the winner: the closest relative to elephants on earth is this: the rock hyrax.

Field day for a palm reader – the underside of the foot: