The monkeys stand for honesty, giraffes are insincere

No fancy introduction here, just my zoo pictures.

This ridiculously photogenic vulture was very interested in what I was doing by her cage. I'd tried to take a picture of her when she was up on her perch.

But she insisted on coming down.

And then her mate joined us.

Inside the Butterfly House, I came across this thing. It's a Cattleheart Butterfly.

A butterfly that had recently emerged from its cocoon.

Owl butterflies resting on the wall.

Sleeeeepy serval.

You'd think with Britain's lion fetish that they'd have the enormous African lions. Instead, they have four Asiatic lions. The young male's on the platform, Mom's asleep on the ground, and the sister's next to her. The two cubs are a little over two years old.

And then there's the big guy up on the platform.

Regal-lookin' fella.

Tyger, tyger, burning bright/in the forests of the night.

Some more of the zoo's Victorian architecture. This was once the Parrot House.

Pretty sure these are the world's dumbest emus. They spent the entire time pecking at the wires and trying to eat them.

The aquarium under the Mappin Terraces is quite cool, but the lighting wasn't conducive to good photography- although I do have a nice camera, I like to use my video camera. It has no flash, but a super-fast shutter speed. Here's a seahorse.

One of the Orchid Dottybacks. I've never seen such a day-glo animal in my life.

Carl had the munchies that only hands could satisfy.

Anna-na-na using the Victorian picture viewer. Inside? Pictures of nipplewort.

Why did the chicken bleeding heart dove cross the walkway?

To play in the pan of food. Duh.

More of that lovely old architecture.

Normally I HATE HATE HATE HATE  monkeys, but this guy was so adorable.

He was so CONCERNED that something would take his nut away!

D'aww, big fat rat.

Leech jar! All the leeches were at the back.

The original Giraffe House, home to the giraffes, okapis, and zebras.

The male okapi did not want to pose for us.

The female was more interested in her food. They have such elegant heads.

This is the most impatient giraffe in the world. First, he was upset that his food was empty. Then, he went to his water jug, and THAT was empty, too!

Have you EVER seen a more disappointed-looking giraffe?

"That's RIGHT. You refill... WAIT WHERE ARE YOU TAKING IT? YOU BRING THAT BACK THAT DOES NOT BELONG TO YOUUUUUUUU!"

And then the zoo closed and we had to leave.