The Flora and Fauna of ABQ BioPark
MARCH 29, 2019: Christmas had come and went and we failed to sneak in a visit to the River of Lights at the ABQ BioPark which was voted as one of the best holiday light shows by USA Today. The River of Lights began as a fundraiser for the BioPark and continues all these years later to support projects for the BioPark. But missing the Christmas display, didn’t stop us from visiting on a lovely spring day. ABQ BioPark is positioned along the Rio Grande River near downtown Albuquerque. It is made up of several attractions in one, the BioPark Zoo, Botanic Garden, Aquarium and Tingley Beach. All these combined, it is said to top the list as the biggest tourist destination in the state.
We started with the Botanic Garden, well after buying tickets of course. You didn’t really think we rammed through the gates, did you? The ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden opened in 1996 and has grown to about 36 acres. I absolutely don’t have a green thumb, but do enjoy being able to appreciate the skill of those that do. The gardens mostly showcase plants from the Southwest and other arid climates, but in the Spring you will also come across more “gardeny” type flowers like these daffodils and tulips to add lots of color to a traditionally dry and brown dessert scene.
We had already seen many of the native New Mexico plants on our hikes in the Sandia foothills, such as yucca, agave, and cholla, as New Mexico is known for its untamed beauty. But it was also enjoyable to see the way humans can craft a natural wonderland with the same plants in a garden setting.
In addition to the traditional arid-climate plants, we enjoyed the Japenese Garden filled with eye-popping greens and waterfalls. The Rose Garden was filled with roses that thrive in the high-desert climate, but unfortunately for us it was a bit to early for any blooms. We could see that many of the plants throughout the garden were just weeks from blooming, so as is usual with a botanical garden, the time of year you visit makes a difference but it allows visitors to see the full life-cycle of the plants from dormant to magnificent. However the blooms of some of these majestic plants did not disappoint.
While you likely visit a garden to see the botanicals, definitely don’t skip the Bugarium. It features many different insects, with the most prominent display being the leaf-cutter ant exhibit. It was fascinating to see them at work carrying large leaves above their heads. While thankfully the tarantulas and similar anthropods were behind glass, the leaf-cutter ants were traversing vines overhead that took them from the tree in the middle of the complex to their colony in another part of the building.
We’d be remiss if we didn’t share with you the epitome of all pergolas. Check out the amount of shade that provides. Russ is currently trying to figure out how to add one to the side of our RV. I’m sure it would be easy to assemble (you know, just like IKEA furniture).
After finishing up with the floral and fauna, we headed to the BioPark Zoo portion of the grounds which was established in 1927 and is home to around 900 animals. We met flamingos and lions and walked through the African safari. Okay, that might not quite be the truth, but something like that. I suppose due to New Mexico’s climate, the most impressive collection of animals were from the plains of East Africa. We enjoyed the walk along a winding trail in which we came across giraffes, zebras and white rhinos with spacious enclosures. As is usually the case when we visit zoos, we are most intrigued by the species which is our closest relative and in which we share more than 98 percent of our DNA with - the primates (gorillas, orangutans, chimpanzees)! Now if we could just stop being the main threat to the wild primates by causing habitat loss due to deforestation and human encroachment, they could live happily ever after.
Other animals we spotted and learned about were….
AFRICAN PAINTED DOG - this is the only predator that will not abandon an injured group member, rather they will stay with the ailing individual and nurse it back to health. Sorry Russ, but next time I will have to marry an African Painted Dog in case of injury!
We also viewed this WATTLED CRANE which was just one of the three species of cranes that call the ABQ BioPark home. Those that know both me and my mom, know that we aren’t fans of the animals that could be described as avian. But, this guy (or girl) was kind of cool looking and cranes hold a special place in my heart due to my mom’s good origami skills!
We tried to keep up, but the CHEETAHS had us beat and could do so even if we would have had them follow us home on I-40 as they can travel up to 70 mph of course making them the world’s fastest land animal. 0 to 70 in 3 seconds flat. Why isn’t there a car called a Cheetah? Made you think. It’s a good idea, isn’t it?
It’s not everyday you come across a WHITE RHINO. I mean, to be honest with you, a rhino is a rhino is a rhino, but apparently there are five different species of the animal and this one happens to be a white rhino making it the largest of all the rhinos you might come across on your afternoon walk, like we did on this day. Just like so many of the other animals we got to see, their biggest threat is habitat loss (ugh) and poaching for horns (double ugh, please stop it people).
Usually the words large and rodent don’t paint a good picture, but for some reason I find the CAPYBARA to debunk that phrase. Weighing up to 120 pounds it is the largest rodent in the world and somehow they carry that weight “cutely”. I have to be honest, I didn’t know capybaras existed until I first saw them at Billie Swamp Safari, just North of the Everglades in 2016. Since, I’ve had a fond liking to the strangely large rodent.
While the apes and monkeys are usually our favorites at a zoo, we do like to spend quite some time watching the big cats, more specifically the lions. We got to check out Sibling LIONS Ken and Dixie who have been at the ABQ BioPark Zoo since April 2016. They started their adventure there about the same time we started ours as full-time RVers. They seemed to be settling in nicely to their afternoon routine of napping. I think I’ve found my spirit animal!
I want a HIPPOPOTAMUS for Christmas, only a hippopotamus will do. Sorry, not sorry, for getting that song in your head. The thing I didn’t know about hippos is that they secrete an oily red substance that serves as a skin moisturizer, sunblock and a protective layer from germs. Talk about a three-in-one skin product - that’d be handy!
The BioPark Zoo certainly doesn’t rate up there with the San Diego Zoo, St. Louis Zoo, Lincoln Park Zoo or Columbus Zoo, but we still enjoyed our time exploring among the animals. Many parts of the facility were under construction as it appears that are trying to upgrade facilities and during our visit were working to add a Penguin exhibit which has since then opened. In combination with the other facilities that make up the ABQ BioPark, you can certainly fill a day looking around. On a future trip, we would likely check out the Aquarium as well.
