Please feed the animals

Cathedral City, CA – When we lined up for the 10 am giraffe feeding at the Living Desert zoo and botanical garden this morning, we didn’t realize that WE were going to do the feeding!  As we filed closer to the two giraffes waiting on the other side of the enclosure, we were each handed a small branch of acacia tree with instructions to hold the sprig high up and allow the giraffe to grasp it with its 18-inch long tongue.

It was quite a feeling to see that great head dip toward my hand, and to feel the tip of the giraffe’s black tongue brush my fingers as I released his leafy treat!  Zoo staff told us we should only approach in groups of four, and not to make any jerky movements or sudden exclamations. It was a special moment.

We took the shuttle ride through the whole facility at the beginning of our visit, to get an idea of what we could see in closer detail later on.  The Living Desert is divided into an African section, with flora and fauna from that region, as well as a small African village, and a North American section that included an extensive botanical display of cacti, butterfly- and hummingbird-friendly plants.

In addition to giraffes, zebras, camels, cheetahs and gazelles, we saw cattle-like animals called addax, with beautiful spiral horns, as well as a lot of exotic birds.  The grounds were well laid out with looped pathways, landscaped with a huge variety of desert plants, many of which were labeled, which I appreciated.  There was even a section where these plants were for sale in case visitors wanted some in their home gardens.

Toward the end of our visit we came across an aviary filled with Australian birds, making the most raucous noise!  For two dollars each, we were allowed to enter through double doors (to keep the birds from flying out) and walk among them.  Our admission included a popsicle stick with a cluster of bird seed attached to one end, so we could hold it out and watch the birds light on the stick and peck away at the seeds. I was surprised at the weight of the small budgie-type bird that landed on my stick.  It was delightful having such a close look at the bird’s colourful feathers as it worked away at the seed cluster.

When we were riding on the shuttle, we chatted with another couple of seniors, Brian and Carole, who were in town for a high school reunion.  Brian went to school in the area and one of his classmates was Frank Sinatra, Jr., and they were going to attend a concert by him in the evening.  Our reading about Palm Springs revealed how many scores of movie stars, musicians, producers and directors have lived or live in this area.  In earlier times, it allowed them to comply with Hollywood contracts that required them to be within two hours’ travel distance, in case movie scenes needed to be re-shot, for example.

The whole area reminds us of these residents – we drove along Bob Hope Drive, Dinah Shore Drive, Gene Autry Trail and many other streets with celebrities’ names. The beauty and climate make their choices completely understandable.