Trip to Spain: Madrid Zoo

The Madrid Zoo

As I mentioned, the girls siesta'd while I made my way to the zoo. I used the metro. Both the # 10 and #5 lines go to Casa de Campo which is the stop for the zoo. It's a little off the beaten track and I wasn't sure I was in the right spot when I first go there. The signs pointing to the zoo are small, yellow, dificult to see and worn with time and the elements. If you get off at the Casa de Campo stop, go through the exit turnstiles and take the elevator to the street level. When the door open you will be facing in the direction of the zoo. It exists in a park and the street you are facing has foot paths on either side that you can follow right to the zoo. It's about a 10-15 minute downhill walk from the metro station, just stay next to the road and it will take you to the entrance for the zoo.

One of the coolest things at the zoo are the electric golf carts you can rent. You can see one in the reflection of the glass in the picture of the Mandrill. I didn't have alot of time to spend at the zoo, o this was a great option. I got to zip around the zoo really fast. They also seemed good for families who brought coolers and picnic baskets with them. The zoo wasn't very busy the day I was there so the carts were no problem, but I could see problems if the zoo was crowded. These would never fly in the litigous USA.

They seemed to use alot of water features in their enclosures, which really gave you an unobstructed view of the animals. The fences were more to keep the people off the grass and from going closer to the animals then actually containing the animals themselves. The hippos certainly don't seem to want to escape anyway, they were happily wallowing in a big muddy hole.

The zoo was pretty nice, clean and the animals all seemed well cared for. The staff was very nice, especially the woman who helped me wit the electric golf cart. She spoke no English (and I speak only a few words of Spanish) so she was very patient with me. Here's a few pics to enjoy:

Giant Panda...they're adorable! (even though they'd rip you limb from limb if given the chance)

An enormous albino rattlesnake, one of the biggest I've ever seen.

Cassowary. I never saw one of these in person. The are a big kind of dinosaur looking bird. From what I've seen/read about them, they are fierce birds that can inflict alot of damage if cornered.

Mata Mata...one of the weirdest, coolest turtles in my humble opinion

They also have an aquarium on site with dolphin and seal shows which I hear are very good, although I didn't have time to see them. So if you are a zoo person and find yourself in Madrid, check out the Madrid Zoo.