Spartangirl
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 19, 2007
- Messages
- 1,670
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Locked in!
After playing with the "kitties" and "puppies," we were led to a two-story shaded observation deck. Up at the top we were treated to African Redbush tea, flatbread and hummus. As soon as everyone reached the top of the platform, we turned to see a guide closing a fairly heavy gate and telling us we were being "locked in" for our safety. As we looked down below, a few adult tigers were being brought out one-by-one. We were treated to a presentation of just how fast tigers can run. Because of this, the tigers were not restrained in any way.
Here are a couple of pictures...in the first picture, you can see one of the observation decks that we were on.
Check out this video clip...we could actually feel the ground shake as the tiger ran!!!
After the tigers were secured and brought away, we headed down and walked along their enclosure. One of the tigers that just ran for us was "stalking us" (in particular, the small children along the fence line). It was kind of an eerie feeling.
Our guide took time to point out a few more details about the cats and noted that the 15 foot fence that we were comforted by was really quite an illusion. A tiger's vertical leap can reach up to 26 feet standing still. However, tigers don't climb trees and are intimidated by the flex in the fence that they don't believe will hold their weight. So they happily stay on the ground and mind their own business.
As we continued along the fence line, we also saw some leopards...a spotted one and a black one. They were just gorgeous!
Soon we were introduced to Bubbles the elephant. We watched as he crushed, splattered, and ate a whole watermelon. We then got to feed him a carrot and rub his trunk. He was such a sweetie...
Next up was a cute and friendly gibbon. We loved holding and taking pictures with him!
Then we got to meet the baby orangutans who were 3 and 5 months old. They completely reminded me of human infants with their cuteness and short attention spans.
Check out this video clip...there were several trainers around us helping to get a "great picture." They would give the orangs juice as a reward.
Here is the picture that we got!
The final stop of our tour brought us to a covered pavilion facing a pool with views both above and below the water. As we munched on some snacks, we watched Bubbles cool off and then got to see three young tigers and their handlers swimming and playing in the water.
Then came the "superstar" of the preservation...Suriya the orangutan. He's world famous because he befriended a stray hound dog who was soon named Roscoe (they have been best friends and for the last 2 years have been nearly inseparable) and he's the only known orangutan in the world that will swim in water. He's been swimming for the past couple of years with a lifejacket (We learned that orangutans are not neutral buoyant like humans and cannot float and in the wild do not know how to hold their breath.)
Three weeks prior to our visit, curiosity got the best of Suriya. He wanted to see what his trainer was doing under the water so he took off his vest on his own. Since that day, he's been learning to swim without the vest and holding his breath under the water. He's been featured on the Today Show, Good Morning America, etc. He was simply adorable!
Check out this short video clip of the super star!
We soon got to meet the star while he was in a kiddie pool. He shook our hands, but found special interest with Chris. He lifted up Chris' shirt and poked him in the belly button...
I was literally on the ground laughing until he tried to do it to me too!!!
Our time was up at the Preservation Station and we were so sad to go! The four hours that we spent there will always have a secure hold in our memory banks. In the future whenever we see animals on TV, in the movies, in music videos, and in commercials we will remember our experience because many of the animals that we met have been used or will be used for these and many more productions to come.
Up Next: Coconut on pizza?
Locked in!
After playing with the "kitties" and "puppies," we were led to a two-story shaded observation deck. Up at the top we were treated to African Redbush tea, flatbread and hummus. As soon as everyone reached the top of the platform, we turned to see a guide closing a fairly heavy gate and telling us we were being "locked in" for our safety. As we looked down below, a few adult tigers were being brought out one-by-one. We were treated to a presentation of just how fast tigers can run. Because of this, the tigers were not restrained in any way.
Here are a couple of pictures...in the first picture, you can see one of the observation decks that we were on.
Check out this video clip...we could actually feel the ground shake as the tiger ran!!!
After the tigers were secured and brought away, we headed down and walked along their enclosure. One of the tigers that just ran for us was "stalking us" (in particular, the small children along the fence line). It was kind of an eerie feeling.
Our guide took time to point out a few more details about the cats and noted that the 15 foot fence that we were comforted by was really quite an illusion. A tiger's vertical leap can reach up to 26 feet standing still. However, tigers don't climb trees and are intimidated by the flex in the fence that they don't believe will hold their weight. So they happily stay on the ground and mind their own business.
As we continued along the fence line, we also saw some leopards...a spotted one and a black one. They were just gorgeous!
Soon we were introduced to Bubbles the elephant. We watched as he crushed, splattered, and ate a whole watermelon. We then got to feed him a carrot and rub his trunk. He was such a sweetie...
Next up was a cute and friendly gibbon. We loved holding and taking pictures with him!
Then we got to meet the baby orangutans who were 3 and 5 months old. They completely reminded me of human infants with their cuteness and short attention spans.
Check out this video clip...there were several trainers around us helping to get a "great picture." They would give the orangs juice as a reward.
Here is the picture that we got!
The final stop of our tour brought us to a covered pavilion facing a pool with views both above and below the water. As we munched on some snacks, we watched Bubbles cool off and then got to see three young tigers and their handlers swimming and playing in the water.
Then came the "superstar" of the preservation...Suriya the orangutan. He's world famous because he befriended a stray hound dog who was soon named Roscoe (they have been best friends and for the last 2 years have been nearly inseparable) and he's the only known orangutan in the world that will swim in water. He's been swimming for the past couple of years with a lifejacket (We learned that orangutans are not neutral buoyant like humans and cannot float and in the wild do not know how to hold their breath.)
Three weeks prior to our visit, curiosity got the best of Suriya. He wanted to see what his trainer was doing under the water so he took off his vest on his own. Since that day, he's been learning to swim without the vest and holding his breath under the water. He's been featured on the Today Show, Good Morning America, etc. He was simply adorable!
Check out this short video clip of the super star!
We soon got to meet the star while he was in a kiddie pool. He shook our hands, but found special interest with Chris. He lifted up Chris' shirt and poked him in the belly button...
I was literally on the ground laughing until he tried to do it to me too!!! Our time was up at the Preservation Station and we were so sad to go! The four hours that we spent there will always have a secure hold in our memory banks. In the future whenever we see animals on TV, in the movies, in music videos, and in commercials we will remember our experience because many of the animals that we met have been used or will be used for these and many more productions to come.
Up Next: Coconut on pizza?
The baby orangatangs look like they are posing so perfectly! 
Thanks for sharing your amazing day with us!
I cannot believe all of the animals you were able to interact with....the video of the tiger was amazing he looked like a cute GIANT cat 
) I am filing this place away and if we ever get out that way it will most definitely be on the agenda!
Just another reason why I love the DIS...learn somethin' knew every day. 
