fishing cat pictures | Russel Ray Photos

I was successful at getting the Mayans to postpone the end of the world to 3012. Of course, just like the government, that means I kicked the problem down the road. We’ll let our great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandchildren deal with it.

Meanwhile, enjoy some more pictures of wildlife that make the San Diego Zoo their home. I hope I’m not boring you with San Diego Zoo pictures. If I am, well, bear with me; it’s my favorite place to go to get away from it all and relax for a couple of hours.

Arabian oryx at the San Diego Zoo

I’m not sure I would want to run around all my life with three-foot spikes sticking out of my head, but maybe next Halloween I’ll try it.

Lesser kudu at the San Diego Zoo

Ross's Goose at the San Diego Zoo

Several decades ago I worked as a copywriter/editor/proofer for the University Press, the College of Science, and the Department of Chemistry at Texas A&M University. That’s when I overcame my fear of the possessive S, as in Ross’s Goose above.

There are a couple of general rules that you can follow which are good in 99% of the cases. First, if you pronounce the possessive S, then use the apostrophe S. Since I pronounce Ross’s as Ross-es, I spell it with the apostrophe S. A couple of well-known exceptions are Jesus and Texas. Even though you pronounce the possessive S, you don’t use the S after the apostrophe (Jesus’, not Jesus’s, and Texas’, not Texas’s).

Another exception is that you don’t use the ending S if the following word begins with an S. For example, if that were Ross’ Snow Goose, the S that would normally be after the apostrophe gets left off. Too many Ses (S’s?) in a row would make you think of, what? A snake.

Albino Burmese Python at the San Diego Zoo

Ring-necked Duck at the San Diego Zoo

Mr. Ring-necked Duck looks like he has a little attitude. I promised him that none of my blog readers would make fun of him, so be sure to LIKE him.

Smew at the San Diego Zoo

Andean Condor at the San Diego Zoo

These next two birds might not actually make their homes at the San Diego Zoo because they are free to come and go, visiting the wonderful San Diego area at will. However, if you could make your home at the San Diego Zoo, where you would get regular feedings and have people oooh and aaah over you, well, wouldn’t you?………:)

Great Blue Heron at the San Diego Zoo

Great Egret at the San Diego Zoo

I’ve always known the Great Egret by that name but recently I read a blog from a blogger in Florida who called it a Great White Heron, which is also one of its common names.

Marbled Duck at the San Diego Zoo

Ashy-headed Goose at the San Diego Zoo

Coronated Fruit Dove at the San Diego Zoo

Johnston's Crocodile at the San Diego Zoo

Fishing Cat at the San Diego Zoo

Visayan Warty Pig at the San Diego Zoo

The Visayan Warty Pig is a juvenile, so it does not have a single wart yet.

Once you see an adult, you’ll truly believe that there are faces that only a mother could love.

Here, let me show you one:

Visayan Warty Pig at the San Diego Zoo

Hippopotamus at the San Diego Zoo

The hippopotamus is a young one, born on January 26, 2011, which happens to be my wise old grandmother‘s birthday. She would have been exactly 100 years old, so I have a special fondness for that little hippo.

This post approved by Zoey the Cool Cat

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I try to go to SeaWorld, the Zoo, and the Safari Park each week, and I really don’t like to miss one of them. Thus I start early in the week so that if work gets in the way, I’ll have as many done as possible. Today’s trip was to the San Diego Zoo, and it was one of the best visits I’ve ever had. The animals seemed to know that I was coming today and were being very photogenic. And animals that are rarely seen — fishing cat, Andean condor, maned wolf — were out and about. Enjoy!