Philadelphia Zoo Asian Rhino Munching

The Asian rhino munches on snacks in the outdoor area of his exhibit in the Zoo's Pachyderm House.

(I wish the Pachyderm House were not closed to visitors now. It used to be so nice to see the elephants, hippos, and rhinos inside, too.)

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Philadelphia Zoo
• zoos
• Pachyderm House
• mammal
• mammals
• rhino
• rhinos
• rhinoceros
• Asian rhino
• March
• spring
• 2009
• Wednesday

[IrishMusicIsAwesome]

Why did they close the Pachyderm House?

[ZooVisitorMM]

@IrishMusicIsAwesome The Pachyderm House was closed to visitors even before the elephant exhibit was closed - I think to keep the anti-elephants-in-zoos people out. But the Zoo does not say that officially. There may have been some other reasons, too. So I am not exactly sure what the reason, or reasons, were. Now it is closed to be converted to a Children's Zoo/Education Center.

[awesomeH2O]

I think the Pachyderm House is closed to visitors because the animals may need some privacy. I mean, animals sometimes need a break from children shouting to get their attention, don't you think? That is one thing that I think is good that the Zoo did for the pachyderms.

[ZooVisitorMM]

@awesomeH2O No, that's not the reason the Pachyderm House is closed to visitors. And, no, I don't think closing the Pachyderm House to visitors was a good thing.

I spent so many peaceful hours in there with my children watching the keepers grooming the elephants and rhinos, and watching the hippos taking a shower in their indoor pool, and watching the babirusa preparing his bed of straw, and making eye contact with the gentle okapi ...

It makes me very sad to remember those memories.

[awesomeH2O]

@ZooVisitorMM Well....I guess it is sad in a way that people can't see them in the Pachyderm House the way they used to be able to. But don't you think animals deserved some quiet time during the day away from the noises of shouting people trying to get their attention, or just crowds in general?

[ZooVisitorMM]

@awesomeH2O I don't think there are too many shouting people trying to get their attention. And I also never saw signs that any of the Pachyderm House animals wanted to be away from the crowds. They always seemed to stay up close to the viewing areas.

[ZooVisitorMM]

@awesomeH2O But visitors who came into the Pachyderm House always seemed to be very quiet. There was a special atmosphere in that building with the high ceilings and the open-air exhibits with no physical barriers like glass between animals and humans. It was a place that felt like the animals' territory, and visitors respected that as they quietly watched the animals.

That's why I loved it.

[awesomeH2O]

@ZooVisitorMM I did visit the Pachyderm House when I was young (before I stopped visiting Zoos). Barely anyone was in it. I did get to see Petal, Dulary, Kallie, and Bette, and at that time, they were kept together.

[awesomeH2O]

The Pachyderm House has closed to visitors now? Interesting. Maybe the keepers want the animals to have a little resting time to themselves. Anyway, Xavira here is a beautiful animal.

[TomChair]

Very nice shot - very nice slow zoom to show the close detail!