Day 168 – The San Diego Zoo Spoon

I’m finishing off a week of zoo spoons with yet another zoo I’ve never been to: The San Diego Zoo. 

In 1999, a female giant panda named Hua Mei was born at the zoo. In 2004, she became the first giant panda cub to survive to adulthood in the United States. She was promptly shipped off to China, where she has since had 10 babies, including 3 sets of twins. 

Day 167 – The Exotic Animal Paradise Spoon

This spoon falls under the category of “Not from a REAL Zoo.” I THINK it’s from the Exotic Animal Paradise in Strafford, Missouri (near Springfield). Or rather, the former Exotic Animal Paradise. 

Founded in 1971, it closed down in 2006 and all of the animals were auctioned off. It was reborn in 2007 as “Animal Paradise Family Fun Park” and then later, changed its name to “Wild Animal Safari.”

One reviewer said of the new park, “The ‘safari’ (bus tour) is not much fun. Picture 30 other people throwing food out of windows continually while yelling and screaming.”

No, thanks. I’ll pass.

Day 166 – The Calgary Zoo Spoon

Who has the coolest zoo in North America? Calgary, hands down. I can’t think of any other zoo that also has a prehistoric park, but Alberta is a fitting place, since so many well-preserved fossils have been found here. One more reason to love Canada.