Portland Autumn Trip｜A Magical Encounter with Animals at Oregon Zoo

As soon as I landed in Portland, I was greeted by a chilly breeze—howling autumn winds and occasional rain showers. Yet, the Oregon Zoo felt like a hidden autumn paradise, with countless trees showcasing vibrant shades of yellow, orange, red, and green, their leaves dancing in the wind and carpeting the ground. 🍂 Exploring the zoo on a drizzly autumn day turned out to be such a delightful experience! Here’s a record of some of the most memorable animals I encountered～ 🦅 Condor: I first learned about condors at Pinnacles NP—they’re extremely rare and critically endangered. According to the zookeeper, there are only 583 individuals left in total, including both wild and protected ones. Condors are scavengers, and in the past, lead poisoning from bullet fragments in animal carcasses (due to human hunting) was the leading cause of their decline. The condors at Oregon Zoo are part of a rescue and breeding program. The oldest one here is 40 years old—it was once attempted to be reintroduced to the wild but was brought to the zoo because it couldn’t adapt and was too curious about humans. With a wingspan of up to 10 feet, wild condors can fly 100 miles a day in search of food. They soar effortlessly with the wind, using very little energy. 🌬️ 🐰 Rex Rabbit: These rabbits originated in France and are quite large. The most remarkable thing is their fur—incredibly soft, unlike that of cats or dogs. It’s snow-white, like a cloud, and feels like plush, thick velvet. So fluffy! ☁️ 🦍 Chimpanzee: Today, the zookeeper gave them fresh lemons as a special treat—a rare snack that got them really excited. The oldest chimp, Chloe, was especially thrilled, gathering lemons in her hands and mouth with pure satisfaction. Later, indoors, she even carefully peeled the lemons before enjoying the flesh, sucking on them happily. 😋 At 57 years old, Chloe is still healthy and joyful. She’s also the best at walking upright among the group—she can stroll across the entire activity lawn from one end to the other without any trouble! 🐭 African Giant Pouched Rat: These African rats have an extraordinary sense of smell and are trained to detect explosives like TNT in their native regions. During the demonstration, the zookeeper had a visitor hide a small box scented with lavender somewhere in the exhibit, and the rat successfully found it, earning a little reward. 🎁 It’s amazing how these little creatures possess such incredible abilities! #Portland #OregonZoo #PortlandTravel #PortlandGuide #WhatsAtTheZoo #WestCoastTravel #ExploringTheAnimalWorld #ZooInTheRain