Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden: A Day Among the Animals

🦁 Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden: A Day Among the Animals 🌿 As the second-oldest zoo in the US, the Cincinnati Zoo offers a mix of historical charm and modern animal care—with spacious, naturalistic enclosures that encourage fascinating behaviors 🐾. Whether you’re a zoo enthusiast or just looking for a relaxed day out, this place delivers plenty of memorable moments! 🐾 Animal Encounters & Highlights: • African Lions 🦁: Heard the powerful, rumbling roar of a male lion—an unforgettable sound! • Sloth 🦥: Spotted one stretching its long tongue! Mostly motionless…until it scratched an itch with surprisingly quick feet. • African Painted Dogs 🐕: Playful and social—either dashing around or sunbathing in fluffy piles. • Fiona the Hippo 🦛: The superstar! Saw her and her brother nibbling and playing underwater. Bonus: tilapia fish chasing after hippo poop 💩🎣 (yes, really!). • Manatees 🐄: Three young manatees (around 1.5 years old) are here as part of a Florida conservation program. They’re smaller than wild adults and occasionally surface to breathe…and yes, sometimes poop 💦. • Winter Notes: Some areas (tigers 🐅, gorillas, African zones) were under seasonal maintenance, but the daily penguin parade 🐧 at 2:30 PM was a cute highlight! 🐦 Unexpected Delight: A brilliant Northern Cardinal (that bright red bird from Angry Birds!) made an appearance—so vibrant and photogenic 📸! 🌳 Botanical & Seasonal Vibes: The zoo is also a botanical garden 🌸, though winter meant fewer blooms. Spring and summer would offer lush scenery. Plan for 4-5 hours to see everything thoughtfully. ✅ Final Impressions: A well-rounded zoo with good animal welfare and engaging behaviors—worth a visit if you’re in Cincinnati. Not mind-blowing, but wholesome, fun, and full of small surprises! #CincinnatiZoo #ZooReview #AnimalEncounters #TravelOhio #FamilyFriendly #ManateeRescue #FionaTheHippo #BirdWatching