GIRAFFES, BABY LIONS and More at the Wildlife World Zoo Aquarium and Safari Park, Litchfield, AZ

A giraffe enjoys a snack at Wildlife World in Litchfield, Arizona (near Phoenix)

What could be more intriguing than a giraffe's blue tongue or more enchanting than two tiny lion cubs? The two lions, brother and sister, born in January 2016, and housed in the baby animal nursery at the Wildlife World Zoo Aquarium and Safari Park in Litchfield, Arizona (just west of Phoenix) were the motivation for a trip to the zoo with friends on my recent visit to Arizona. 

Lion cubs in the baby animal nursery

We found the cubs cuddled together in their nursery home; just as we arrived they woke up from their nap and began to play. What I had forgotten is that lion cubs are spotted when very young–an adaptation that helps protect them from possible predators in the wild.

The baby tapir (6 weeks old) will lose its stripes as it matures

Also in the nursery was a baby Brazilian tapir, and a young Patagonian cavy. It is baby animal season at the zoo! Outside we passed young zebras and antelopes with their mothers and a goose with her flock of goslings.

A mother Addax antelope and her calf

As we walked along the shaded paths to see the animals, everyone--people and animals--seemed to be enjoying the beautiful weather. The scope of the park is large and we didn’t have the time or energy to do the entire tour. We chose a circular route that took us past the tigers, lemurs, wallabies and other Australian animals, ponds with various exotic waterfowl, lots of bird exhibits and more.

A curious ostrich

At the giraffe enclosure I climbed the steps to the feeding station, where the animals stuck out their long blue tongues for treats from visitors. (A giraffe's tongue can be 20 inches long and the dark blue or black color protects the tongue from sunburn while feeding in tall trees.) We then followed the train tracks past some curious ostriches and other African animals back to the entrance and Dillons Restaurant for lunch.

Looking at the shark tank from inside Dillons Restaurant

While we ate, giant sharks cruised the waters in the huge tank between the restaurant and the Aquarium. Smaller tanks with tropical fish surround the patio and bar area. Inside the Aquarium I saw an albino alligator and watched children reaching into the touch tank to feel the rays swimming by.

Two lemurs out for a stroll

There is something for everyone at Wildlife World–animals, birds, and aquatic animals, plus rides, bird and animal shows, animal feeding and more. We enjoyed our visit and someday will have to go back to see more.

Information for Visitors:
Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park is located at 16501 W. Northern Ave., Litchfield Park, AZ (SE corner of state route 303 and northern Ave.) It is open seven days a week, 365 days a year, including all holidays.

Zoo exhibits are open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (last zoo admission is at 5:00 p.m.) Aquarium exhibits are open from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Daytime admission includes access to the zoo, aquarium and safari park. Special reduced evening admission to Aquarium-Only is available after 5:00 p.m.
For more information go to the Wildlife World website.

MEGALODON at the Raleigh Natural Science Museum, North Carolina: Jaws of Giant Shark Close-Up

Model of the jaws of Megalodon at the Raleigh Museum of Natural Science

Imagine a giant shark twice as big as the modern-day great white shark, with razor-sharp teeth the size of a human hand, and jaws so huge they could swallow an object the size of a horse!  Long ago, just such a creature swam the oceans of the world.  It was megalodon, the biggest predatory shark that ever lived.  Growing nearly fifty feet long, this fearsome hunter cruised the ocean depths for millions of years, feeding on nearly anything that swam in the sea.

A year and a half ago, when I was in North Carolina, I went with my family to the Raleigh Natural Science Museum where a model of megalodon’s huge jaws are on display in the main lobby of the museum.  Megalodon roamed the oceans of the world for at least 17 or 18 million years before becoming extinct about 2 million years ago at the beginning of the last Ice Age.  Fossilized giant megalodon teeth have been unearthed in North Carolina and South Carolina, as well as in fossil deposits in California, Florida, Maryland, Belgium, Morocco, Mexico, South America and in other places once covered by ancient seas.

Shark teeth are among the most commonly found fossils.  All sharks lose teeth frequently–a single shark may lose thousands of teeth in its lifetime.  A tooth may last only a week.  The teeth are loosely fastened in the jaw and often break or simply fall out.  This is never a problem for the shark, because a new tooth is always ready to take its place.  A shark’s replacement teeth are folded back in its jaw and pop up into place when needed as if they were on a conveyer belt.  No matter how many teeth a shark loses, it is always prepared for its next meal!
While fossil shark teeth are common, no complete fossil skeleton of megalodon has ever been found.  Sharks have skeletons made of cartilage.  Cartilage is tough, but not as hard or durable as bone or teeth and does not fossilize nearly as well.

Giant Shark (Clarion Books, 2000)

I first learned about megalodon when I was doing research for my children's book Giant Shark: Megalodon, Prehistoric Super Predator. The book has beautiful illustrations by Laurie Caple. When I go to schools and libraries to talk about my books, I bring my fossil megalodon tooth for "show and tell."  (I bought the tooth, which was found in South Carolina, at a fossil shop.) The enormous tooth, which is still sharp on its sawtooth edge, always makes a big impression on my audience.

Fossil megalodon tooth, 14 million years old

Megalodon was once the supreme hunter of the sea.  Luckily, ocean dwellers no longer have to fear this giant predator.  But at places like the Raleigh Natural Science Museum, we can marvel at the giant jaws and enormous teeth of this ancestor of the great white shark.