BIG KITTIES!!!!!

[verbicide]

When I read up on Philadelphia Zoo's big cat exhibit, I knew that they were the reason I was flying to Philly--the STC conference was a distant freaking second.

I know, I know. You get it. I like cats. But they were so close!! And so pretty!! And I really want to hug them SO DESPERATELY. I still feel like I sold out my childhood dream of working with them. And Jeff says that if one approaches me ever, I am not to hug them. Which I think is just sad.

Anyhow. I took a lot of pictures (only a subset is below). I'm a terrible photographer. My camera is very old. And it took me forever to think to turn off the damn flash, which would have made a difference in some of these shots at least. Click on any of them for a bigger, better view.

So I present to you, My Inadequate Gallery of Big Kitty Photos. Please look at them and tell me you love big cats, too. Thank you.






There are three lionesses and one big male. They were mostly sacked out on the rocks, so it was hard to get pictures of them. Well, I could have gotten some great shots, but these were the first ones I saw and it was sort of like The Rapture had me frozen where I stood.



This guy just paced back and forth --right in front of us. Like, two inches from the glass. There were throngs of school children bopping around like a Happy Meal of Kid Mcnuggets so I felt bad for this beautiful black jaguar named Kon.



One puma was up in a tree. I've decided that Brutus is a direct descendant of a Puma. Something about these beautiful graceful creatures reminds me of him. Also, I miss Brutus.



The other puma wandered around leaping on things. And scowling. He kept moving behind the damn tree before my camera would click.



It sort of breaks my heart to have a snow leopard picture without her enormous puffy tail. But still so so so so beautiful.



And, the other side.



I think I loved tigers first, and I've always loved them best. In a group:



Or sleeping alone:

Comments

[margotheangel.livejournal.com]

I love big cats! Also smaller ones. And medium-sized ones, too.

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

Right there with ya, sister :)

[saavedra77.livejournal.com]

Hey! Thanks for reminding me of something I actually liked about Philadelphia! The zoo! I haven't been there in about 25 years, but even back then the place seemed pretty impressive. I remember that they put a lot of work into giving the animals spaces that looked like their natural habitats. And I remember the lions lounging in the sun on their big fake rocks.

Glad that you found someplace fun to go, there, after all.

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

Even though I just ran in to see the kitties (and caught a few elephants and giraffes and zebras...), it was a pretty damn cool zoo. I wish I had more time for it!

[rolypolypony.livejournal.com]

SO COOL!!!

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

I KNOW!!!

[lietya.livejournal.com]

Awwww, they're gorgeous! I'm really jealous; I've never seen big cats live, in or out of stunning habitats.

(although Molly looks just like that black leopard, except smaller.)

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

It is seriously the coolest thing ever!! I hope you get to see them in person one day :)

[trtle.livejournal.com]

Meow!

[verbicide.livejournal.com]

Don't upset Murphy, now! *grin*

[trtle.livejournal.com]

She likes meows...it's the meows that don't like her! :D