Sketchbook: Creatures from the Bronx

One year ago this month I spent a day with the fine creatures of the Bronx Zoo on a short trip to NYC. Above: some sort of hornbill, and a little ibex. I really like the ibex exhibit at the Bronx - it's landscaped into a spacious, grassy hillside, surrounded by brushy trees, and complete with rocky outcrops for the sure-footed little goats to trounce about on. Most fun is the mixed company - sharing the enclosure with the ibex is a small group of geladas. Old world monkeys that share the same dynamic social structures and ferocious smiles common to their closely related baboon cousins, geladas are stunning, flamboyantly furred primates that look like they'd be right at home if there were ever a Mardi-Gras parade over the Ethiopian highlands.

Below: an exceedingly patient dromedary camel named Rosie, who had been enlisted to give rides in the Zoo's barnyard (for some reason I imagine most camels as exceedingly patient, though I say this never having spent much time with one personally, nor in any way attempted to test those large, gentle, doe-eyes...). And lastly, a saddlebilled stork, "sitting" rather awkwardly.