Jiwa and Friends

Carol Freshley April 4, 2016

Let's go to the zoo! Friends, Jiwa, maybe some flowers . . . I was in. So glad I decided to pick up my camera and join Tom, Barbara and Rick for a quick stop at the Phoenix zoo.

There is a new Sumatran tiger exhibit.  We stopped by but, quite frankly, we were disappointed.  The male was out pacing along the back fence with an occasional trip to the watering hole.  The female stayed out of site.  Few phot… — There is a new Sumatran tiger exhibit. We stopped by but, quite frankly, we were disappointed. The male was out pacing along the back fence with an occasional trip to the watering hole. The female stayed out of site. Few photographic opportunities there so we headed over to see Jiwa.

My, Jiwa has grown a lot since I saw him last September.

I believe this is Sasha, Jiwa's older sister.

Jiwa was picking up just about anything around and tasting it.

I believe that Jiwa was looking down at his mom.

When you watch Jiwa and Bess for a while you realize that they are still VERY close.

Bess has climbed to a perch above the 'playground'.  She is patiently waiting for Jiwa to climb up and meet up with her. — Bess has climbed to a perch above the 'playground'. She is patiently waiting for Jiwa to climb up and meet up with her.

As Jiwa started up, Bess left her perch and headed across the wire ceiling, tempting Jiwa to follow her.  He did.  He has done it before. — As Jiwa started up, Bess left her perch and headed across the wire ceiling, tempting Jiwa to follow her. He did. He has done it before.

It is a long drop to the upper platform from the wire ceiling so as Jiwa got close to Bess on the wire ceiling he grabbed her and hung on.  Ste lowered him, with her, to the platform. — It is a long drop to the upper platform from the wire ceiling so as Jiwa got close to Bess on the wire ceiling he grabbed her and hung on. Ste lowered him, with her, to the platform.

Yep, Jiwa, that is a long way down!  Bess, like all good mothers, keeps that left hand ready to pull him back in case he gets any ideas about flying. — Yep, Jiwa, that is a long way down! Bess, like all good mothers, keeps that left hand ready to pull him back in case he gets any ideas about flying.

Bess is NOT letting go.  He is showing off.  She is not impressed enough to let go.  I loved her calm, easy, but powerful mom stance. — Bess is NOT letting go. He is showing off. She is not impressed enough to let go. I loved her calm, easy, but powerful mom stance.

Jiwa keeps pulling.  Remember when mom stood up!  It meant that she meant business!  Bess is just the best mom! — Jiwa keeps pulling. Remember when mom stood up! It meant that she meant business! Bess is just the best mom!

Haha!  There are other things to shoot when you tire of Jiwa.  Rick caught the inquisitiveness of these two birds.  "Do you see what I see?" — Haha! There are other things to shoot when you tire of Jiwa. Rick caught the inquisitiveness of these two birds. "Do you see what I see?"

Just letting you in on a secret . . . it took a lot of tries for Rick to get this excellent photo.  Rick does not give up easily. — Just letting you in on a secret . . . it took a lot of tries for Rick to get this excellent photo. Rick does not give up easily.

He is so pretty he gets his photo taken twice!

I am pretty too!  Rick thinks so. — I am pretty too! Rick thinks so.

The tigers were a disappointment but the flowers were not.

This is a good time of year to visit the zoo. Not too hot yet, kids are pretty much in school and yet it is light enough that the animals are up and moving about by the time you get there. We left the zoo and had lunch at Thai Basil in Tempe. A very fun day!

Jiwa and a Pelican

Carol Freshley November 1, 2015

My grandson had early dismissal from school so Tom and I took him to the zoo. We were treated by a great display of activity by Jiwa, the baby orangutan. He is now over one year old and is really setting out on his own. When Tom finally pulled away photographing Jiwa he grabbed a good shot of a pelican.

I kid had a small plastic fish which he was waving to get Jiwa's attention.  Jiwa kept trying to reach for it and was very attracted to the bright toy. — I kid had a small plastic fish which he was waving to get Jiwa's attention. Jiwa kept trying to reach for it and was very attracted to the bright toy.

Jiwa had been playing on the rope hammock.  He is very strong and agile, rarely having a problem with balance.  But, when he wants to go outside he latches on to mom.  Bess, mom, scoops him right up, never missing a step. — Jiwa had been playing on the rope hammock. He is very strong and agile, rarely having a problem with balance. But, when he wants to go outside he latches on to mom. Bess, mom, scoops him right up, never missing a step.

Now that Jiwa is so active it is more fun to head out to the zoo to capture some of his antics. The best photos are those taken when he is in the outdoor area as the light is better. Take your long lens and plan on staying a while.

Spring at the Zoo

Carol Freshley April 16, 2015

Phyllis, Barbara, Jon and Rick spent some quality time at the Phoenix Zoo. They share their photos with the rest of us. I have put all the photos of Bess and her family together. Bess was born in 1979 and is the mother of Kasih, born in 2006 and Jiwa, born last September. Michael, born in 1987, is the father of both offspring. In just the last week or so, Kasih has been allowed to join her mother and baby brother, Jiwa. The interactions between family members is quite remarkable.

That little hand . . .  Older sister looking on . . . Bess in protective mode. — That little hand . . . Older sister looking on . . . Bess in protective mode.

Bess is known for liking to get up close to the glass, especially for children.

For some other zoo photos . . . Equally interesting!

Looking for a place to shoot this weekend? Well, spring is in the air and there are babies everywhere . . . at the Phoenix Zoo! A very special thanks to the photographers. You made my day!