Camelids at the Zoo
There were many flocks [of llamas] belonging to the Sun there, and the Inca ordered the prince to graze them with the shepherds.
Garcilaso de la Vega, El Inca
In the early days, when I began developing this web site, I wondered where I was going to get some camel pictures. There are no camels at Hawkwood farm where I get most of my llama pictures.
One day I thought, "The zoo! Perhaps they have some camels at the zoo!" In Edmonton, we are blessed with a small zoo, The Storyland Valley Zoo, nestled in our scenic river valley.
A quick phone call to the zoo's information line answered my question. Storyland Valley Zoo had camels.
One August morning, I parked my Prelude in the zoo parking lot. I was a man with a mission and a camera. Somewhere behind the zoo's outer wall were some camels.
At the zoo entrance, I asked the girl selling admission tickets where I might find the camels. Following her instructions, I quickly reached my goal--the camel pen.
I recieved quite a pleasant shock. Instead of the expected dromedaries, I found a family of bactrian camels--several adults and a youth.
Many zoos, like Storyland, have programs for families and kids. At certain times of the day, Storyland has camel rides for the children, and part way through the ride the handler stops the camel so parents can take pictures.
For many city dwellers, the zoo may be the only opportunity to see any of the camelids--alpacas, camels, guanacos, llamas and vicuñas--in the flesh.
Camelid Country Home Page.
Page last updated March 3, 2000.
Page Maintained by John Fleming.
Copyright © 1998-2000 John Fleming.
Background Image Copyright © 1997 Gini Schmitz.
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