Good day my friends. I am back to update you despite the lack of repose. (Note the dark circles around my eyes. Thank you, I know I can pull off this look). But here is a random sampling of my schedule as of late.

First, I check in on our Baby Flamingo. 

Napping. All is well. 

Then I make sure that baby peacock is studying the grounds. (This little one has big shoes to fill). Note to self, teach her the difference between flowers on the mural and real ones.

It is never too early to educate them on the finer things in life. Look at this display.

I've asked the Flamingos repeatedly to take on some of the workload supervising the grounds, but they feel they are above that, on account of being 'actors' in the flamingo show.Well. I asked Florence if she prefers the Stanislavsky technique, or method, and if she attended Juilliard School but she harumphed at me and said she is a stand up comedienne, so there goes any assistance from them.

Of course on my route I encounter a few stragglers, this chap was on his way to Zoo Camp and got distracted by the Wishing Well. 

And apropos the Zoo Campers; they pop up in the most unexpected places!

Please do not fret. Once the zoo campers have fulfilled their fun quota here with us, I shall dedicate myself to my regular blog posting schedule. Wish I could find time to meditate like this guy.

Everything in life is speaking in spite of its apparent silence.
— Hazrat Inayat Khan

Its been Wilder than ever!

Dear Friends,
I am sorry I was not here to post on my regular day.
And I shall tell you why.
It starts with a Z and ends with OO CAMP!.

They are everywhere these Zoo Campers! A peacock needs his rest, but they have infiltrated the grounds! From playing games in the Secret Garden (so much for that being a Secret), to Water Activities out back, Stories under the Pavilion, and the general laughter and learning going on, not only am I exhausted from all the supervising along with my human counterparts, I have fallen behind in my beauty rest. Where am I to nap?  Therefore my apologies my fine followers. I have been extremely busy, but if I may confess, I've been having lots of fun just watching those kids have a such a good time.  They are really quite amusing.

I'll post pictures of Zoo Camp in action in the next day or two. Florence Flamingo has been borrowing my camera to capture the growth of our baby peacock. Look how big he's getting! A fine specimen if I do say so myself.
And so my friends, I am off to investigate the flamingo arena, I hear lots of excitement over there which I would never forgive myself for missing. And so I bid you adieu, and leave you with this parting thought from my latest literary musings:


Love of animals is a universal impulse, a common ground on which all of us may meet. By loving and 
understanding animals, perhaps we humans shall come to understand each other.
— Dr. Louis J. Camuti

What are you reading right now my feathered friends?

 Are you a thriller enthusiast? Do you like Historical fiction, autobiographies? Have you been there done that with Dickens, Wilde and Thoreau?

Well here is something new you can add to your repertoire. My friends and I at the zoo are starting to gather new or used books to start a lending library. In particular, anything and everything to do with wildlife, plants, animals, conservation, recycling, gardening, and saving the planet in general. Ever wondered about the life cycle of the red-eyed tree frog? How to take care of a spider plant? Need cool ideas about how to give items around your house a new life? Pretty soon, you'll be able to make Ardastra your source for literature on everything wild and being green. (One of my favourite colours FYI).

If you would like to donate your books to the Lending Library, you can drop them off with one of our staff at the front gate (don't give them to the Ring Tailed Lemurs even if they try to convince you). Hey you can give yourself a gold star for dropping off used books; thats recycling!

Bonus points if you bring them on your bike. 

Hey There Wild Ones!

Zoo Camp is filling up fast! Have you signed up yet? Whether you'll be in Critter Club, or be a Zoo Trooper, an Ardastra Explorer, or getting your Art Ed-zoo-cation, you are leaps and bounds to have a wild adventure with us! So register online today, its easy! See you soon.