Le Pal

Another trip to Le Pal means another souvenir, with some of the animals of the park. Le Pal is home to 2 red pandas, Naoki and Bily.

Date: July 19

Georgia Aquarium

Georgia Aquarium is a public aquarium in Atlanta. The aquarium's animals are displayed in seven galleries and exhibits: Tropical Diver, Ocean Voyager, Explorers Cove, Cold Water Quest, Southern Company River Scout, Dolphin Coast, Truist Pier 225 and Aquanaut Adventure, a Discovery Zone. Each exhibit corresponds to a specific environment. The aquarium's notable specimens include whale sharks, beluga whales, California sea lions, bottlenose dolphins, manta rays, sea otters, and tiger sharks. Its centerpiece is a 6.3 million US gallons whale shark exhibit. At the Georgia Aquarium, you can experience common bottlenose dolphins through a massive viewing gallery, a high-energy theater presentation, and an exclusive hands-on interaction program. The aquarium currently houses a pod of 12 bottlenose dolphins at the Dolphin Coast exhibit.

Thank you Devon!
Date: July 11

Zoo d'Amnéville

Zoo d'Amnéville is a major 18-hectare independent zoological park located in the Grand Est region, in the Moselle valley, between Metz and the Luxembourg border. It is hosting 2,000 animals from 360 species across five continents, including gorillas, orangutans, siamangs, African wild dogs, polar bears, giraffes, rhinoceroses, lynx, elephants, and white lions.

Tag: Zoo tag
Date: July 12

Souvigny

Souvigny is a commune in the Allier department in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes in central France. Today the main town of a canton of the Allier department, Souvigny has long been one of the major towns in the Bourbonnais, and the royal House of Bourbon was based there. Ties with the nearby Cluny Abbey add to its rich history. The jewel of Souvigny is undoubtedly the Priory Church of Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul, the largest religious building in the Allier department. This remarkable example of Romanesque and Gothic art houses the tombs of the Dukes of Bourbon as well as the relics of Saint Mayeul and Saint Odilon, two influential abbots of Cluny. The building, a listed historical monument, impresses with its size and the richness of its thousand-year history.

A souvenir from my 2nd trip to Moulins.
Date: July 19

Jia Jia & De De

Giant pandas Le Le and Ying Ying's twins Jia Jia & De De.
Le Le and Ying Ying were gifted to Ocean Park Hong Kong in 2007. In August 2024, Ying Ying made history as the oldest first-time mother to give birth to twins after years of trying.

RR: Weekly RR
Date: July 10

Lake Kivu

Part of Africa’s Great Rift Valley, Lake Kivu is Rwanda’s largest lake and one of the African Great Lakes, straddling the border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Renowned for its emerald-green waters and backdrop of dramatic volcanic mountains, it spans roughly 2,700 square kilometers. Beneath its peaceful exterior, Lake Kivu is one of only three meromictic or exploding lakes in the world.

RR: Vacation RR
Date: July 7

Wolf cub

Big wolf cub in the snow.
Date: July 15

Zhinvali Reservoir

Zhinvali Reservoir is a striking turquoise-blue artificial lake located on the Aragvi River, in the Caucasus Mountains, roughly 70 kilometers north of Tbilisi. Completed in 1985, it supplies drinking water to about half of Tbilisi and features scenic mountain views alongside the historic Ananuri Fortress Complex. It spans a surface area of 11.5 square kilometers and reaches a maximum depth of 75 meters.

RR: Vacation RR
Date: June 29

Koalas

Koala and her joey. Thank you Ash!
Date: June 29

Predators of Asia & Africa

Fort Worth Zoo is a zoo in Fort Worth, Texas and is home to 7,000 native and exotic animals. The Fort Worth Zoo houses two critically endangered Sumatran tigers named Rakan and N'dari. They live in the zoo's modern Predators of Asia & Africa habitat, which opened in June 2023. It includes huge yards for returning carnivores like lions, cheetahs, African wild dogs, and new addition of African leopards. The half that was formerly Asian Falls still displays Sumatran tigers, striped hyenas, as well as the new addition of clouded leopards.

Tag: Zoo tag
Date: July 1

Stryn

Stryn is a municipality located in the Nordfjord region of Vestland county, Western Norway. It is internationally renowned for its dramatic national romantic landscapes, which feature steep waterfalls, deep green valleys, towering peaks, and emerald-green glacial lakes. Stryn borders Jostedalsbreen National Park, home to the largest glacier on mainland Europe. Oppstrynsvatnet lake is a gem that is surrounded by mountains towering 1,900 metres above sea level.

Tag: Album tag

Date: July 5

The Florida Aquarium

The Florida Aquarium in Tampa houses three male North American river otters named Brandon, Kraken, and Huron. Equipped with powerful tails to help them navigate water effortlessly, North American river otters have thick, insulating fur that gives them warmth and protection against colder waters, allowing them to thrive in various aquatic environments. With their keen senses, North American river otters are great hunters even in the murkiest of waters. Their long whiskers act as sensitive receptors, helping them detect prey in the dark, while their sleek, agile bodies can move swiftly and precisely, making them efficient predators. They can also submerge in the water for 8 minutes without surfacing!

RR: June alternative RR
Date: July 6