The Terrific Tuesday behind the scenes focused on the walrus, but for me gave just as many photo opportunities of the elegant photogenic Arctic Fox, who's habitat is in the 'Wild Arctic' back lot. You will see that the Walrus off exhibit area is very cozy allowing only a dozen or fewer of us to at a time to check them out. I hope you enjoy the pictures.
Date(s): 2/13/07. Album by Heinz Steiner. Photos by Heinz Steiner. 1 - 23 of 23 Total.
1 Dana, the Wild Arctic animal keeper gives us some background and answers questions at the Wild Arctic Plaza.
2 Natasha, the Arctic Fox, was the first one to greet us, she has a multi room "apartment" with pool and all the amenities.
3 The covered walrus patio with the pool in the backgound. The massive three lock gate inside protects what or whom? ... I forgot to ask.
4 'Obie' the 3000 pound male enjoys the pool. The patio area can be locked separately if necessary.
5 Just out of view from the visitors inside, where the 600 and 900 pound 'juveniles' showed some temper when I tried to stick my camera through the large mesh, getting their whiskered mouth up to the camera, even at six to seven feet above ground.
6 So, the juvenile pictures just show their back, but some of the exhibit is visible.
7 Kitkatska is sticking her head, well front torso, through a small examination (human emergency exit) door that is too small for the rest of them to fit though.
8 She certainly enjoys visiting with us. Both males and females have tusks but hers fell victim to an infection.
9 She is posing for the camera, but the tight quarters did not make photo opportunities very simple.
10 Ten guests in that small ante-room made it quite cozy.
11 but Kitkatska was very happy to see us. She was not annoyed that we did not bring her food.
12 The walrus get fish and shelled clams in massive quantities, so feeding them gets quite costly.
13 more poses, I snapped a few while I was in a position to do so.
14 I'm not sure, but the marks could be 'love scratches' from 'Obie' getting ready for Valentines day.
15 'Obie' is exercising in the pool, doing back stroke laps, turning with a racing flip at each end.
16 Dana explains the daily chart that shows the food allocation in POUNDS and their weight, special observations are also noted here.
17 Natasha was eager to pose and since the Arctic Foxes are not on exhibit, she sees fewer strangers and still shows some curiosity.
18 I took her winking at me as an approval to shoot away with my camera ....
19 .... which I did. Of course without annoying her with flashes.
20 "This pose makes me look fat!" A typical 'girl' complaint, because that thick winter coat shows her a bit bigger than she is.
21 ... I'm sure she is just imagining that :-)
22 "Since this angle does not show my legs off well, make it just a head - shot for my portfolio?"
23 "YES! I am a ravishingly good looking Fox, my winter coat shows me off very well here!" Thanks for posing, Natasha, I really appreciated it!
