Heading Down to Antheria!

martes and I are heading down to Antheria today (an invitation to join us was sent to ruggels, but no word from him yet). This con is being held down in Redondo Beach, at the Best Western Sunrise (Redondo Beach).

I don't know much about this convention: for something so local to me (Los Angeles), I'd heard nothing about this con until I read a post in Thornwolf's journal about the hotel change (to Redondo Beach). No flyers at conventions, little chatter about it in blogs...it was a mystery (which is bad for a first-time convention).

Still, Stan Sakai is the GoH and he's always worth seeing. Plus I'm sure we'll see a few friends from out-of-area there.

Tomorrow I plan to go back with calicougar in tow.

Heading Down to Antheria!

martes and I are heading down to Antheria today (an invitation to join us was sent to ruggels, but no word from him yet). This con is being held down in Redondo Beach, at the Best Western Sunrise (Redondo Beach).

I don't know much about this convention: for something so local to me (Los Angeles), I'd heard nothing about this con until I read a post in Thornwolf's journal about the hotel change (to Redondo Beach). No flyers at conventions, little chatter about it in blogs...it was a mystery (which is bad for a first-time convention).

Still, Stan Sakai is the GoH and he's always worth seeing. Plus I'm sure we'll see a few friends from out-of-area there.

Tomorrow I plan to go back with calicougar in tow.

Heading Down to Antheria!

martes and I are heading down to Antheria today (an invitation to join us was sent to ruggels, but no word from him yet). This con is being held down in Redondo Beach, at the Best Western Sunrise (Redondo Beach).

I don't know much about this convention: for something so local to me (Los Angeles), I'd heard nothing about this con until I read a post in Thornwolf's journal about the hotel change (to Redondo Beach). No flyers at conventions, little chatter about it in blogs...it was a mystery (which is bad for a first-time convention).

Still, Stan Sakai is the GoH and he's always worth seeing. Plus I'm sure we'll see a few friends from out-of-area there.

Tomorrow I plan to go back with calicougar in tow.

Magdeburg Zoo

I love to visit zoos: when I visit a new place, the first thing I look up is whether there's a zoo or animal park.


Full Flickr set--Dholes, Stripe Hyenas, Snow Leopards and Tigers!

Magdeburg's Zoo is very nice-- definitely a "modern" small zoo (think Santa Barbara Zoo). The layout is pleasant and open, with large grassy areas and clusters of animal enclosures organized roughly by where the animals are from.

One thing that surprised the heck out of me: dogs. I've never been to a zoo where dogs were allowed in! I first saw a sign above a waterbowl that indicated it was "dog water"...and I went, "buh?" Then I saw people with dogs-- quite a few of them. Almost as surprising was how well-behaved the dogs were: they never barked or lunged or spazzed at the animals or scents or sounds of the zoo (which had to have flooded their senses!). In fact, they were polite and docile. More calm than I've seen dogs in a park! (With one exception-- I think it was a puppy and it was puppy-spazzing all over the place.) How neat! Bring your dog to the zoo!

I apologize in advance for the preponderance of stripe hyena, tiger, dhole and snow leopard shots. Of the animals on exhibit, these were my favorite and, happily, all were very active (even well-before the feeding time). However, if you need a tiger or hyena reference study, this is your place!

The snow leopards were a mother and two nearly grown cubs that were politiking over a meaty bone. The mother was calm and graceful, while the brats tried hard to be the bigger, fiercer cat.

Unlike most tigers I've seen, this one had no problem eating his meat in front of all the gawkers. I got some very nice shots of his head-workings.

Dhole: at first I thought they were maned wolves...but their legs were too short and they lacked both mane and stink. Then I saw the sign: Rothund. Red Dog-- Dhole! Mostly they were napping puddles of fur, but a couple of them were restless and trotting around. I'd never seen them this close and active before so I was very happy. Dholes are one of the canine family I'd like to learn more about.

Stripe Hyenas! I love hyenas generally, so an exhibit of any of their family is a treat. These two were -very- active and had distinct personalities: one was some was aloof and serious and the other was a doof. The doof ate trees, dug at rocks and trotted around annoying the more aloof of the pair. Aloof hyena seemed to mostly want to nap...but the vigorous activities of the doof kept distracting it to the point where it -had- to find out what the doof was up to. Very cute. Did I mention I love hyenas?




I also have some video, but I'll have to go through them and upload them to Youtube at some point.

All in all, a very good zoo and well worth a visit if you're in the area. I went on a Sunday and it was not crowded at all (plenty of people, but nothing like the crowds you'd find at a typical American zoo). Plus, there's a trolly car that goes from a block from the hotel to the front of the Zoo!

Magdeburg Zoo

I love to visit zoos: when I visit a new place, the first thing I look up is whether there's a zoo or animal park.


Full Flickr set--Dholes, Stripe Hyenas, Snow Leopards and Tigers!

Magdeburg's Zoo is very nice-- definitely a "modern" small zoo (think Santa Barbara Zoo). The layout is pleasant and open, with large grassy areas and clusters of animal enclosures organized roughly by where the animals are from.

One thing that surprised the heck out of me: dogs. I've never been to a zoo where dogs were allowed in! I first saw a sign above a waterbowl that indicated it was "dog water"...and I went, "buh?" Then I saw people with dogs-- quite a few of them. Almost as surprising was how well-behaved the dogs were: they never barked or lunged or spazzed at the animals or scents or sounds of the zoo (which had to have flooded their senses!). In fact, they were polite and docile. More calm than I've seen dogs in a park! (With one exception-- I think it was a puppy and it was puppy-spazzing all over the place.) How neat! Bring your dog to the zoo!

I apologize in advance for the preponderance of stripe hyena, tiger, dhole and snow leopard shots. Of the animals on exhibit, these were my favorite and, happily, all were very active (even well-before the feeding time). However, if you need a tiger or hyena reference study, this is your place!

The snow leopards were a mother and two nearly grown cubs that were politiking over a meaty bone. The mother was calm and graceful, while the brats tried hard to be the bigger, fiercer cat.

Unlike most tigers I've seen, this one had no problem eating his meat in front of all the gawkers. I got some very nice shots of his head-workings.

Dhole: at first I thought they were maned wolves...but their legs were too short and they lacked both mane and stink. Then I saw the sign: Rothund. Red Dog-- Dhole! Mostly they were napping puddles of fur, but a couple of them were restless and trotting around. I'd never seen them this close and active before so I was very happy. Dholes are one of the canine family I'd like to learn more about.

Stripe Hyenas! I love hyenas generally, so an exhibit of any of their family is a treat. These two were -very- active and had distinct personalities: one was some was aloof and serious and the other was a doof. The doof ate trees, dug at rocks and trotted around annoying the more aloof of the pair. Aloof hyena seemed to mostly want to nap...but the vigorous activities of the doof kept distracting it to the point where it -had- to find out what the doof was up to. Very cute. Did I mention I love hyenas?




I also have some video, but I'll have to go through them and upload them to Youtube at some point.

All in all, a very good zoo and well worth a visit if you're in the area. I went on a Sunday and it was not crowded at all (plenty of people, but nothing like the crowds you'd find at a typical American zoo). Plus, there's a trolly car that goes from a block from the hotel to the front of the Zoo!

Magdeburg Zoo

I love to visit zoos: when I visit a new place, the first thing I look up is whether there's a zoo or animal park.


Full Flickr set--Dholes, Stripe Hyenas, Snow Leopards and Tigers!

Magdeburg's Zoo is very nice-- definitely a "modern" small zoo (think Santa Barbara Zoo). The layout is pleasant and open, with large grassy areas and clusters of animal enclosures organized roughly by where the animals are from.

One thing that surprised the heck out of me: dogs. I've never been to a zoo where dogs were allowed in! I first saw a sign above a waterbowl that indicated it was "dog water"...and I went, "buh?" Then I saw people with dogs-- quite a few of them. Almost as surprising was how well-behaved the dogs were: they never barked or lunged or spazzed at the animals or scents or sounds of the zoo (which had to have flooded their senses!). In fact, they were polite and docile. More calm than I've seen dogs in a park! (With one exception-- I think it was a puppy and it was puppy-spazzing all over the place.) How neat! Bring your dog to the zoo!

I apologize in advance for the preponderance of stripe hyena, tiger, dhole and snow leopard shots. Of the animals on exhibit, these were my favorite and, happily, all were very active (even well-before the feeding time). However, if you need a tiger or hyena reference study, this is your place!

The snow leopards were a mother and two nearly grown cubs that were politiking over a meaty bone. The mother was calm and graceful, while the brats tried hard to be the bigger, fiercer cat.

Unlike most tigers I've seen, this one had no problem eating his meat in front of all the gawkers. I got some very nice shots of his head-workings.

Dhole: at first I thought they were maned wolves...but their legs were too short and they lacked both mane and stink. Then I saw the sign: Rothund. Red Dog-- Dhole! Mostly they were napping puddles of fur, but a couple of them were restless and trotting around. I'd never seen them this close and active before so I was very happy. Dholes are one of the canine family I'd like to learn more about.

Stripe Hyenas! I love hyenas generally, so an exhibit of any of their family is a treat. These two were -very- active and had distinct personalities: one was some was aloof and serious and the other was a doof. The doof ate trees, dug at rocks and trotted around annoying the more aloof of the pair. Aloof hyena seemed to mostly want to nap...but the vigorous activities of the doof kept distracting it to the point where it -had- to find out what the doof was up to. Very cute. Did I mention I love hyenas?




I also have some video, but I'll have to go through them and upload them to Youtube at some point.

All in all, a very good zoo and well worth a visit if you're in the area. I went on a Sunday and it was not crowded at all (plenty of people, but nothing like the crowds you'd find at a typical American zoo). Plus, there's a trolly car that goes from a block from the hotel to the front of the Zoo!