Polar Bear & Sea Lion

[RandyRFJP]

Both photos taken at Brookfield Zoo; Cook County Forest Preserve District, IL, on indicated dates.

Polar Bear, 2017-01-21


Male California Sea Lion, 2016-10-30

[GBO25]

The polar bear is magnificent but you've got to love that cheeky looking sea lion.

[Shadowman]

Nice shots.

[NorthernFocus]

Nice fur detail on the PB and you captured one of their most interesting features in the shot, the pad of its foot.

[Wavelength]

Classic shots; interesting details for both

[bje07]

Polar bear would be better if its head was facing us.
Sea lion is far better, with very unusual pose. I like it.

[JohnRostron]

The polar bear is magnificent but you've got to love that cheeky looking sea lion.

Haven't you just.

John

[bnnrcn]

Both very nice

[RandyRFJP]

The polar bear is magnificent but you've got to love that cheeky looking sea lion.

I'm glad you liked the photos, Graham. Thanks for commenting.

[RandyRFJP]

Nice shots.

Thanks, John (Shadowman).

[RandyRFJP]

Nice fur detail on the PB and you captured one of their most interesting features in the shot, the pad of its foot.

Dan, thanks for your comment. I was pleasantly surprised that the foot pad was visible when I reviewed the photos of the bear.

[RandyRFJP]

Classic shots; interesting details for both

Thanks, as always, Nandakumar, for viewing my photos and for your kind comment.

[RandyRFJP]

Polar bear would be better if its head was facing us.
Sea lion is far better, with very unusual pose. I like it.

I'm glad you liked the sea lion photo, Jean. Thanks for your comment. All of the other photos I took of the polar bear were in profile, too. He never turned face-forward toward me, and I couldn't change my position to get a "head-on" photo.

[RandyRFJP]

I, too, prefer the sea lion photo. Thanks for your comment, John (JohnRostron).

[RandyRFJP]

Both very nice

Binnur, thanks for your kind comment and for viewing the photos.

[NorthernFocus]

... I was pleasantly surprised that the foot pad was visible when I reviewed the photos of the bear.

The pads show every time if you shoot a walking bear from the other end. But eye contact is tough from that angle

[IzzieK]

The sea lion is so cute...made me smile...wish it were mine. With all the snow yesterday, your zoo still open for winter?

[RandyRFJP]

Izzie, I'm glad you enjoyed viewing the photo of the sea lion. Brookfield Zoo, is open 365 days a year, but the hours they are open change with the seasons. They have many permanent "buildings" that are open year round, too, and their temperature is controlled according to the animal occupants' needs and the season. There's the Australian House, The Swamp, Feathers & Scales, the Great Ape House, etc. Most, if not all, outdoor exhibits have connecting buildings where the animals are kept during extreme weather conditions. Regarding snow, the Chicago, IL area didn't get much accumulation of it this week. Mostly a minor dusting. I'm reasonably sure the small amount of snow has melted off of all concrete, and probably most grassy areas, too. (Brookfield Zoo is about 20 miles from Chicago's "downtown" area.)