Shoushan Zoo
◎Text by Kuan-Chun Chen
◎Photos Courtesy of Shoushan Zoo and Chung-Hui Pao
Shoushan Zoo has been part of Kaohsiung citizens' memory for over 30 years. The renovation of the zoo started this past February and has finally come to an end. It was partially reopened to the public in July and will formally reopen by October. The zoo has planned a series of events to celebrate this successful transformation.
◎Diverse Exhibits
The new zoo is divided into 3 sections: European-Asian Safari Animals, African-Australian Animals, and American Animals. Meanwhile, with the Ape House and the Bird Park, the zoo will exhibit more than 600 animals of 95 types, including lovely mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians.
The zoo also plans to introduce new facilities in October, including Ranch for Kids, Insect Hall, and Parrot Park. The Ranch for Kids is a leisure ranch where children can feed tame animals, such as ponies and rabbits, with zoo staff assistance. The Insect Hall is seeded with nectar plants to attract butterflies and insects to live in this open space. The Parrot Park will be a huge bird habitat where a trail cuts across the park and visitors can get a close look at the parrots.
◎Convenient Services for More Fun at Nighttime Zoo
Shoushan Zoo also will be open at nighttime from July to September this year. The opening hours are extended to 9 p.m. (tickets sold until 8:30 p.m.) every Saturday and Sunday. Various exciting performances and Starlight Cinema services have been arranged to create even more fun for visitors! Don't miss the opportunity to experience fun times and cool nights at the zoo. One friendly note to visitors: no flash photography is allowed and please do not use flashlights on the animals.
壽山動物園
◎文／凌卓民 ◎照片提供／壽山動物園．鮑忠暉
壽山動物園陪伴許多大小朋有走過30年的光陰，徜徉在園中，是許多高雄市民共享的回憶。壽山動物園從今年2月進行整修工程，7月開放部分區域，10月將全面開放，並展開一系列慶祝30周年活動。
◎多元展示場域
園區可概略劃分為三區；歐洲及亞洲草原動物區、非洲及澳洲動物區、美洲動物區，另外還有巨猿展示區與鳥園，共計展示95種，600多隻動物，有各種可愛的哺乳類、鳥類、爬蟲類及兩棲類動物。
園區在十月份全面開放後，新增了「兒童牧場」、「昆蟲廊道」、「鸚鵡公園」。「兒童牧場」以休閒農場為概念，提供已馴化的動物如迷你馬、兔子等，搭配解說人員教大小朋友親自餵食動物，與可愛動物接觸；「昆蟲廊道」則以蜜源植物為主，吸引蝴蝶昆蟲遷入棲息於開放式空間；而「鸚鵡公園」則以大型鳥園為規劃方向，明年鸚鵡公園完工後，還有穿越式廊道進入園區，能更近距離欣賞鸚鵡。
◎夜間遊園 交通更便利
此外，壽山動物園今年在7月份至9月底，還推出夜間遊園服務，每逢週六、日園區開放時間延長至晚間9點(售票至8點30分)，讓更多的民眾可以趁下午至傍晚涼爽時闔家到動物園遊玩，夜間開放期間有多項的精彩表演及星光電影院。不過，動物園也特別提醒入園參觀的民眾，夜間遊園時，不能用閃光燈拍攝動物，或以手電筒照射動物。
黑猩猩 Chimpanzee
台灣黑熊 Formosan black bear
智利紅鶴 Chilean Flamingo
小貓熊 Red panda
大象 Elephant