Bowling. They really got into it... hunkering way down low!
Soccer
Basketball
Sitting, swirling ribbons...
... and twirling hula hoops
The baby elephants squeaked and squawked loudly!
Walking over volunteers .... swaggering, swaying and pretending to trip!
Giving massages
Hoping for more bananas a the end of the show
For just over US$1, you could get picked up by an elephant. Wow, what a surreal experience! Suffice to say, you are completely helpless. The elephant reaches out, wraps its trunk around you, and lifts you up... no if's and's or but's! The trunk was EXTREMELY strong and felt like solid muscle. Yet in spite of that, the elephant actually holds you vey gently and sets you down slowly and easily.
They were offering photos with the black leopard too for about $1. I've sat next to a cheetah before and figured this would be the same... they'd give you a TON of warnings about it being a wild (yet mostly docile) animal, and you'd get out of there quickly. Unfortunately not so here. The poor animal was so drugged up that it didn't know which way was up. The caretaker also physically positioned me around it. I didn't feel very good about this one.
We then wandered aimlessly around the expansive gardens.
Views of the French garden below
A small stonehenge
A canopy walk
Baby gets to go on the walk .... and mom actually seems to be holding his/her chain.
