The ZOO!

Mnmom again.
So the Minnesota Zoo is shutdown - more's the pity.  So instead we headed out with picnic basket in hand for the Como Zoo in St. Paul, which we actually like better in many ways. 

First, the entrance has been moved to the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory.  There you pay a suggested donation of $5 for adults and $2 for kids.  The conservatory is amazing! And the grounds contain a Japanese garden, a butterfly garden, etc.  Inside is a new rainforest exhibit and the infamous corpse flower.  It wasn't in bloom that day so we couldn't "enjoy" it's aroma.

Then into the zoo itself.  This old relic has undergone some great transformations.  New buildings, better exhibits, etc.  First we stopped at the orangutans. 


This bad boy lazed around until the power of love overcame him and he chased down a female and leisurely mated while the rest of us primates watched. I should have gotten him a cigarette after that display.


The polar bear exhibit is new - you can get a very close view of these enormous creatures.  How can something so cute rip your head off?