*Winter at the Wilds*

Today after basketball we had a very special day!! We went to the wilds to see some things we have not seen yet!! We also haven't been to the wilds in winter in a long time and it was really different!!The picture above is the mother (Kamaria)of one litter of cheetah cubs that were born near the end of October.  She had two cubs that are living at the wilds. 

Addison helped feed them pans of meat, see the little one peaking around the corner..sooo cute!!

                                                                   momma and cub

                                                             cub

Ayla helped feed these three cubs the mom is Tabu.  The little ones are not officially named yet.  It is a different process since the zoo has taken over.  The cubs were so much cuter than we ever imagined.  These three cubs were born about 1 1/2 weeks later than the litter above.

                                             Tabu showing her cubs  how to eat meat....yummy!!

I think Tabu had 4 cubs but one was not doing well and was pulled and joined another litter, the first litter born at the wilds, the mom was a first time mom and did not take care of them.  You may have seen the 4 of them on TV, they have been on talk shows and news programs.  They are being hand raised by people from the Columbus Zoo.  Lots of great things going on at the wilds and lots of changes, be sure to come out this summer!!!!!!!!

 Karmaria and her cubs outside as we were leaving with full bellies..

Addison and Ayla helped Adam open the door to allow the giraffe back in after he had cleaned the floor and it had dried, training to work at the wilds some day...........

           Mickey ate some bread from the kids today! Addison usally is comfortable feeding them but Ayla really enjoyed it today, Mickey stuck her tongue out to grab the bread, it is super long!!

This is the 11th baby rhino born at the wilds.  Her mom is Julie and the dad is Fireball, one of Addison's favorites.  She was born a couple of weeks ago.  She is very frisky she was running around and jumping around it was soo funny, she was so tiny and cute!

Rhino calf running around a little... super cute. She bucked around and was showing off.

                                              

Ayla was petting Sally who was also born at the wilds.  Ayla was very comfortable around the rhinos this time as well.  It was very neat seeing all of the rhinos in the barns!

Hay chopper, modified by Adam..haha.  One of the indian rhinos is old and has a tough time eat the hay so they have to chop his hay up every day so Adam was showing my dad how it works.  It looks like grass to me after its all chopped. I think Assam is one spoiled rhino!!

Addison's favorite animals is the Takin.  The wilds has been very successful in breeding them they now have around 30, the largest herd in the United States.  They started off with 7.  They do very well in the winter as well!!

We also had to check on Gobi the camel he is on the left.  My mom was with us her name is Beth, the same as the camel pictured on the right.  Mom got all excited when Addison told her, but he was quick to let her know that Beth wasn't his favorite because she had a twisted hump.. Adam also said she is often lame.