My son is an animal lover, so we often go to the zoo. There I am overwhelmed by sad feelings about animals, deprived of their freedom, but he always assures me that they are actually free and that the zoo is their safe home and that any other place would be dangerous to their existence.

Some animals are still locked indoors due to the cold weather, but we still met a lot of them today. Here they are.

Two-hump Camel

One of my son's favorite animals. They live in groups that contain one male and several females. They are thought to have started being tamed by humans more than 3500 years ago. They are well-adjusted to the life in a desert.

Did you know?

The belief that camels keep water reserves in their humps is wrong. It is true, though, that they can keep water for some time in their baggy gastric extensions.

Asian Elephant

Females together with the young form a group, whereas males stay aside. Females give birth every three of four years. An elephant baby weighs 100 kilos when it is born. Elephants grow rapidly for the first 15 years and then this process goes slowly but continues for the rest of their lives.

Did you know?

It is considered that a man first tamed an Asian elephant about 5000 years ago.

American Flamingo

Tall birds with a flexible neck. They usually stand on one leg while the other leg is tucked beneath the body. When standing on one leg the flamingo actually sleeps, but it is unusual that only half of the flamingo is asleep, and the half holding the leg still remains active. They are very social.

Did you know?

Flamingoes (both parents) feed their babies with the "crop milk", produced in glands lining the whole of the upper digestive tract.

Rothschild Giraffe

They live in herds numbering up to 40 members. They defend from their attackers by kicking them and in that way, they can even kill the lion. They sleep for two hours and eat leaves for 20 hours. They are able to resist without water for a long time.

Did you know?

Giraffes are the tallest animals in the world and the only mammals, born with horns. Although their neck is very long, they, as well as other mammals, have only seven cervical vertebrae.

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

They live in pairs or small groups. They are very careful and their flight is accompanied by sharp whistles.

Did you know?

Cockatoos are highly intelligent birds. They are great imitators, and with a little dedication of the owner, they will learn to repeat words, and even complex sentences.

African Lion

They live in herds consisting of one or more adult males, several females and their young. They attack the prey only when it gets as close as 30 metres. Young males, as soon as they become sexually mature, are expelled from the herd. Females stay in the same family. It has never happened that a female changes one herd for another.

Did you know?

Although lioness plays the main role in a hunt, the male lion is always the first one to eat.

Hippopotamus

They live in large groups, which can number up to 100 members. Males defend the territory and are often very aggressive. They spend most of the day in water because the sun has a seriously negative effect on them and at night they come out on land to graze.

Did you know?

Hippopotamus can stay under water continuously for five-six minutes. Mating and birth-giving are done in water.

Meeting animals is always enjoyable. Love of animals makes us better people.

Thank you very much for reading.

Article and all photos are original and mine.

Greetings from Belgrade.