8

 

Check out the back of his head.  If he was painted green, he would totally look like Shrek, right? 

I had never seen a panda bear.  Which is not surprising since I don't get out much (of the country, that is).  I thought they were black and white.  They always are in cartoons and such.  But in person, they're black and kind of a grungy cream colour, even patches of dark brown.  But still very cute. 

This is Da Mao, which means something or other in Chinese.  I don't remember, and I can't pronounce it, so I'm just going to call him Fred.

 

 

Fred brought a girlfriend with him when moved into our Zoo.  But he promptly knocked her up, and she had twins recently.  Wilma and the babies are in living in separate quarters now, and frankly, Fred doesn't seem too bothered by this.  It's not like he's gone off his appetite or anything.  When I got there, Fred was eating.  That's pretty much all he did.

 

 

He did get up and walk around a bit, but he was just looking for more food.

Fred eats 50-60 kg of bamboo every day.   But it doesn't ruin his figure.  Bamboo mostly consists of cellulose.  Which is great if you're a termite;  not so much if you're a panda.  Panda bears cannot digest cellulose.  The only nutrient value they get is from whatever else is in bamboo.  The cellulose they poop out.  The zoo has a pile of it on display under glass.  A 40-minute drive and $35 to look at bear crap.   I can see that in the woods. 

Still, I'm glad I got to see Fred.  He and the family are here for a limited time only.  I think it's nice that Fred gets so many visitors, because he's all alone in his house.  Although apparently, pandas are not very sociable creatures.  Who wants to hang around with somebody who does nothing but eat all day?

I do like our Zoo.  Although the signage is terrible.  I walked for ages and ages before I finally found the African Savanna.   I might as well have trekked to the actual continent, now that it's mostly Ebola-free.

 

 

But these 2 were waiting to greet me – how could I pass that up?  These are Kiko and Mstari.  Aren't they beautiful?  (It's probably only a matter of time before Bob Barker insists they have to move to California, too.)

I think our Zoo takes great care of the animals.  Plus they're good stewards of the environment.  Recycling only!  Don't try throwing anything away – this guy will take your fingers off!

 

 

One Thing That >50 Me Has Learned Along the Way...

If there's no reason that you know of for an increase in your car insurance (accident, traffic ticket, move to a higher-crime area, change in your driving situation such as now driving to work or using your car for work, etc.), you should never, ever, accept it when the insurance company tells you that your rate has gone up because there have been "a high number of accidents in your area and everyone's rates in general have gone up."  That incredibly lame excuse should be interpreted as the insurance company telling you they don't want your business anymore.  So don't disappoint them.  Dump them.  It's easy to find a lower rate provided you have a clean driving record and a car that's simply one year older.  Car insurance companies count on us to be gullible and lazy.  Shop around.  There are several websites that will produce multiple quotes. And never use a broker for car insurance unless you have no choice (e.g. a horrible driving record or no driving record).  They have no incentive to find you the lowest rate.