A giraffe enjoys a snack at Wildlife World in Litchfield, Arizona (near Phoenix)
What could be more intriguing than a giraffe's blue tongue or more enchanting than two tiny lion cubs? The two lions, brother and sister, born in January 2016, and housed in the baby animal nursery at the Wildlife World Zoo Aquarium and Safari Park in Litchfield, Arizona (just west of Phoenix) were the motivation for a trip to the zoo with friends on my recent visit to Arizona.
Lion cubs in the baby animal nursery
We found the cubs cuddled together in their nursery home; just as we arrived they woke up from their nap and began to play. What I had forgotten is that lion cubs are spotted when very young–an adaptation that helps protect them from possible predators in the wild.
The baby tapir (6 weeks old) will lose its stripes as it matures
Also in the nursery was a baby Brazilian tapir, and a young Patagonian cavy. It is baby animal season at the zoo! Outside we passed young zebras and antelopes with their mothers and a goose with her flock of goslings.
A mother Addax antelope and her calf
As we walked along the shaded paths to see the animals, everyone--people and animals--seemed to be enjoying the beautiful weather. The scope of the park is large and we didn’t have the time or energy to do the entire tour. We chose a circular route that took us past the tigers, lemurs, wallabies and other Australian animals, ponds with various exotic waterfowl, lots of bird exhibits and more.
A curious ostrich
At the giraffe enclosure I climbed the steps to the feeding station, where the animals stuck out their long blue tongues for treats from visitors. (A giraffe's tongue can be 20 inches long and the dark blue or black color protects the tongue from sunburn while feeding in tall trees.) We then followed the train tracks past some curious ostriches and other African animals back to the entrance and Dillons Restaurant for lunch.
Looking at the shark tank from inside Dillons Restaurant
While we ate, giant sharks cruised the waters in the huge tank between the restaurant and the Aquarium. Smaller tanks with tropical fish surround the patio and bar area. Inside the Aquarium I saw an albino alligator and watched children reaching into the touch tank to feel the rays swimming by.
Two lemurs out for a stroll
There is something for everyone at Wildlife World–animals, birds, and aquatic animals, plus rides, bird and animal shows, animal feeding and more. We enjoyed our visit and someday will have to go back to see more.Information for Visitors:
Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park is located at 16501 W. Northern Ave., Litchfield Park, AZ (SE corner of state route 303 and northern Ave.) It is open seven days a week, 365 days a year, including all holidays. Zoo exhibits are open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (last zoo admission is at 5:00 p.m.) Aquarium exhibits are open from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Daytime admission includes access to the zoo, aquarium and safari park. Special reduced evening admission to Aquarium-Only is available after 5:00 p.m.
For more information go to the Wildlife World website.
