zoo

The weekend of Thanksgiving, Matt & Cassy brought their kids down from New York and we went to the National Zoo.  A couple of funny things from the trip:

1) A large turtle in the reptile house sat completely still, which is how he catches his prey - the tongue inside his mouth wiggles just a little so that fish think its a worm and come too close to survive.  As Porter, Penelope, and I stood watching it, every single person who came by asked if it was real.  We overheard many families argue over whether it was real or not, which cracked me up - why on earth would the National Zoo put a fake turtle in a tank of water and call it an exhibit?  I was amazed at how many people wondered aloud it the turtle was alive or a statue.  But my favourite comment was this: "That must be real, because where would they find a fake turtle that big?"

2) We were in the small mammal house, looking at some of the monkeys.  On the side of the exhibit were some signs identifying the mammals, and one of them said that the golden tamarins were endangered.  A little girl - probably 5 or so - read the sign, pointed excitedly at one of the tamarins, and shouted to her mother: "Quick, Mom, take a picture of that monkey!  He's in danger!"