Where in the World Are Karmen & Ayk?: Naples Zoo

Believe it or not, we actually did see animals other than the honey badgers at the Naples Zoo. It’s not as expansive as the San Diego Zoo, but there were more animals than you’d expect to see in November. Thank goodness for that year-round Florida sunshine.

While we were there, we met an employee who was from the same podunk town in Maryland where Ayk and I grew up. The employee said he wished he still lived there. Huh? I’d take beaches over chicken fields any day. He resented Naples since riding motorcycles, his pastime, was a hazard in geriatric central. That and he moved when he was 14, so he only has fond memories. Nostalgia is a bitch.

African Grey Parrot. This bird has the intelligence of a 3-year-old human. And this blog is above political jokes.

Rawr! Fear the Turtle.

Three words come to mind when I think of zebras: Fruit.Stripe. Gum. Have fun getting that earworm out of your head.

Hey there, pretty bird

Flock of feathered friends

Worst. Job. Ever.

On second thought, feeding this guy has got to be worse.

Ungulates chilling

More ungulates

Lazy leopard

Someone could use a snuggle buddy.

So close!

Oh that’s lovely.

Horny tree

Try hugging this tree, hippies.

Monkey Island

Fun fact: Monkeys don’t swim. They see water as a natural barrier, so this zoo nixed the tradition fenced-in approach. Almost makes you less guilty about viewing caged-in animals for amusement. Almost.