Como Park Zoo

 The Conservatory was the main reason the E family went to Como Park, but I for one, am glad we added a walk through the Como Park Zoo. I asked McBe how it compared to his recent trip to the Omaha Zoo. His reply, "All the same animals, but on a much shorter walk!" Probably not ALL the same animals they may have seen in Omaha, but definitely a shorter walk! 

The first zoo in Saint Paul was started when in 1897, the city of St. Paul received a gift of three deer. Additional animals followed, when more room was needed to house the animals they were moved to facilities at Como Park. Como Zoo continued to grow through donations of animals and money.

The Art Deco Zoological Building was designed in 1936 by Charles Bassford as part of the federally funded Works Progress Administration. Other WPA structures were completed in the 1930s, including Monkey Island, barn and bear grotto.

In the 1980s several new exhibits were added as part of a major renovation project, including the Large Cat exhibit (1980), Aquatic Animal Building and conversion of Monkey Island to Seal Island (1982), the Primate Facility (1985), the Land and Water Bird exhibit (1986) and the African Hoofed Stock Facility (1987). A new Polar bear exhibit was finished in 2010. A new seal and sea lion exhibit with two pools was completed in 2021. The zoo opened a new exhibit in 2013 called Gorilla Forest. ~ Wikipedia

First, the bird pond with lots of noisy ducks and some flamingos.

Toby the Tortise has gotten many hand rubs over the years.

Then a visit to the penguins. It was so humid in the penguin and otter enclosure, I am surprised the photo turned out as well as it did, because the glass was super dirty, too.

This polar bear gave us his back side while trying to decide if he/she wanted to go in or stay out.

This polar bear was confined to an inside pen, in the AC area.

All the lions were sleeping or resting in their enclosure.

The leopard was another large cat on display in the Big Cat area.

The tiger was also all stretched out and resting in the late morning.

There were three or four giraffes in their enclosure. Their food was on a platform on the tree.

There was a viewing area and platform for humans to feed the giraffes. This one had enough human hands and posed so nicely near the fence.

One of several zebras looking for food on the ground.

The ostrich was so funny! It was catching flies or bugs by contorting his neck and opening his/her beak.

There was also a building for primates, a field for gorillas and another for orangutans.

There is also a daily Sparky otter show in the amphiteater that was very popular. This is just one of a handful of painted otters on display throughout the Como Park Zoo. 

Fiberglass sculpture of 'Sparky' the sea lion who performs entertaining shows at Como Zoo. Created by Third Street Studios in 1997 in celebration of the zoo's centennial. Located near the Sparky Amphitheater. ~ Wikipedia

There were many more visitors at the zoo than at the conservatory. I am surprised none of us were injured by the hundreds of strollers in the confines of the small buildings. But we all survived and enjoyed our walk-about the Como Park Zoo. Definitely more animals and better displays than our last visit 40-50 years ago!