Note: This post is also available in Spanish.
When most people think about Africa, they picture elephants, giraffes and lions. However, there are many things we don’t know about the continent. ‘Conrad Prebys Africa Rocks’ is the new exhibit at the San Diego Zoo that shows all the biodiversity we can find in Africa. Did you know that there are penguins in Africa?
This month, one of the most prestigious zoos out there will unveil several habitats in this part of the world, starting with their penguins. On the zoo’s official website you will find more information about when these exhibits will be available to the public. If you are planning a visit to Southern California, then you must visit the zoo, located in Balboa Park. I guarantee you that San Diego will amaze you. Plus, you’ll have a chance to visit one of the most ambitious exhibitions in the history of its zoo.
There will be a total of six habitats that will take you to the Sahara desert and also also the shores of the ocean:
- Kopje: These boulder-strewn islands in grassland savanna are home for a variety of animals that live their lives among the rocks, including meerkats, hyraxes, and klipspringer antelope.
- Ethiopian Highlands: This rugged mountain habitat is made up of craggy, granite peaks and plateaus. The unique species adapted to this environment include Hamadryas baboons, geladas, and Nubian ibex.
- Acacia Woodland: This open woodland habitat features shrubs and grasses among thorn-bearing acacia trees. Leopards prowl here, vervet monkeys chatter in large family groups, and a colorful bevy of birds flit and nest among the branches in a huge walk-through aviary.
- Madagascar Forest: Madagascar’s forests are among the world’s most distinctive, with dramatic limestone formations and spiny dry forest plants. This is home to species found nowhere else on Earth, including the extraordinary tree-leaping lemurs.
- West African Forest: The dense, tropical forests of western Africa get up to 80 inches of rain each year, creating waterfalls, streams, and pools for fish and the dwarf crocodiles that eat them.
- Cape Fynbos: The fynbos along South Africa’s rocky coastline sets the stage for unusual species, including the weird and beautiful protea plants, small sharks that swim among the reefs, and the adorable, warm-weather African penguins.Because African penguins are endangered, this is also a breeding colony, and the birds will be nesting and eventually raising chicks. The Zoo works with several foundations to help the species.
Ready to learn more about the biodiversity in Africa at the San Diego Zoo? Get ready to have some fun!
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