Best expirences with normally sleepy animals

[birdsandbats]

This thread is for describing cool experiences with zoo animals that are normally sleeping or hidden from view. My best one was on my last trip to NEW Zoo. The Black-Footed Ferrets were up and running around, posing for photos, and generally being active.

 

[katinakalinakaterina]

Okapi at Chester Zoo, usually when I visit they are out of view or too far away or the viewing areas have been too crowded but this time got within 1 - 2 metres. Pictures not great, taken on my phone:

 

[Hvedekorn]

When I visited Duisburg, one of the wombats was very much awake, curious, and trying to interact with the visitors. That was very funny to experience, since I've always stereotyped them as no-show animals - and as far as I've heard, you don't always see them at Duisburg.

 

[gentle lemur]

On my first visit to Newquay in September 2014 I was lucky enough to see the Owston's palm civets being fed in their outdoor enclosure just before the zoo closed. Otherwise I have only seen them in the Nocturnal House or asleep in their nest box through an arrangement of mirrors. I have tried hanging around the civet enclosure until closing time is announced over the Tannoy, but I have never seen them being fed again.

Owston's palm civet feeding (4)

• gentle lemur
• 30 Sep 2014
• 1

Details in the Forum. Newquay, 28th September 2014.

Owston's palm civets feeding

• gentle lemur
• 30 Sep 2014
• 6

It's well worth staying late to see these civets being fed. More details in the Forum. Newquay...

 

[Black Footed Beast]

Most of the animals outside of the play zoo and wild encounters in Brookfield have had at least one day where I see them active, the main one was the Black-Footed Cat which was walking around the exhibit quite a bit, it was one of my personal favorite days

 

[TinoPup]

Philly Zoo already has a pretty nice set up for aardvark viewing when they're (now she's) asleep, but I once managed to walk in as a keeper was preparing to feed her and the meerkats. She was up running around like a happy dog

 

[WhistlingKite24]

Some highlights.
- During my visit to Australia Zoo, one of their echidnas was waddling around his/her enclosure.
-The wombat, quokka, potoroos and rufous bettongs at Wildlife HQ are usually pretty active, which is always a highlight.
-At Lone Pine, there is usually at least one male koala vocalising, which is pretty cool. I have also seen their koalas at feeding time, which puts them in a mad rush climbing down/ up their trees to reach their gum leaves. Food is always a motivator for animal activity.
-Walkabout Creek has a very active platypus and the place is usually very empty (I had the place to myself during my last visit). There is also seating to sit and watch him at feeding time.