The sleepy armadillo didn't seem to mind having his photo taken, although he seemed a bit shy. The truck was filled with many animals, including snakes and birds, that the two volunteers use to educate the audiences they meet during their demonstration travels. It's no easy task since they have to clean and bed the animals before they can relax at night. Better than Travels with Charlie in some respects!
Linking to Camera Critters
A VERY strage critter.
ReplyDeleteThe armadillo does look like he isn't enjoying the attention. They are such odd looking creatures. The parrot is a beauty though. This traveling zoo is an interesting concept.
ReplyDeletearmadillos carry a bacteria that causes leprosy. i'm guessing they wash their hands well...
ReplyDeleteI have never seen an armadillo like that. Thank you for enabling them to educate me.
ReplyDeleteFirst time in a long time to see a live armadillo. Usually dead along roadsides.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know you could hold armadillos like that! Spooky. But I've only seen them from afar.
ReplyDeleteThe armadillo is kind of cute.
ReplyDeleteI must admit that I had no clue what kind of animal was in the first picture - and you may think that's amazing because we have tons of amadillos here in Texas. However, I believe that only the species of armadillos which live in Central and South America are able to roll themselves up. After learning that fact I don't feel so ignorant! I'm wild about animals and would love to have a job like these ladies have.
ReplyDeleteWe were on a ranch and they had armadillos running about. Another guest, visiting from Germany was amazed. She thought armadillos were only prehistoric!!
ReplyDeleteOdd little creature.
ReplyDeleteWhat's Mr Grumpy galah doing in Santa Fe Kate, I thought it was a while since I last saw him :)))
ReplyDeleteKate, what wonderful photos you took! And thanks so much for your kind comments.
ReplyDeleteFor those curious about the armadillo, there are about 20 species of armadillos in the family dasypodidae; they're all in the Americas. The one pictured is a three-banded armadillo species, tolypeutes matacus, from South America, and it is the only species that can roll up in a ball. The species we see in North America is the nine banded armadillo, dasypus novemcinctus. This species can spread leprosy; the three banded armadillo is not know to spread the disease (but we DO wash our hands, and the public does not touch our animals!) And yes, the van does have special cooling and heating systems to keep the animals comfortable, and the Albuquerque BioPark's vets and keepers have developed detailed traveling protocols for each animal.
The goal of the Albuquerque BioPark's education outreach programs is to teach about conservation through creating a connection with the animals and biofacts that we take across the state to people who may not otherwise have a chance to hear the message and see the animals. In the classrooms we support the state's educational standards for grades K-6, and stress that OUR ACTION MATTER!- with things as simple as picking up trash, choosing pets carefully, using non-lead fishing weights- you can be actively involved in conservation.
More than you ever wanted to know about us, I'm sure!
For the curious, the above message is from one of the women in the photo on the post. Thank you for the follow up comments and educating the rest of us!!
DeleteHi Kate,
ReplyDeleteMy current post is about an armadillo and I complement with the link to this post.
The photo and the comment of the women in this photo are great!
The armadillo is a great looking animal - and we had the bird - a galah in our garden today - flying free!
ReplyDeleteCheers - Stewart M - Melbourne