Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Brush-Tailed Bettong - LP Zoo

I'm a brush-tailed bettong and do
Like to dig for food where I'm at
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
Food's buried in my habitat
By the keepers who know that I,
Nocturnal marsupial be,
And prefer to dig on the sly.
So there is little light on me.
But be assured that I am here.
Over the ground I zag and zig,
And in the shadows I appear,
Looking for the food that I dig.

Be patient and likely you may
See me appear, digging away.

Sense Sonnet - Steamer

Noisy Neighbor - LP Zoo

This Jamaican iguana is
Peeking through the leaves to look at
Who's making all that noisy biz
In the neighboring habitat.
There's lots of squawking going on,
And the iguana cannot sleep.
Checking out this phenomenon,
Through leaves the iguana does creep,
And finds that the culprit does be
A Puerto Rican parrot who
Is not being too neighborly
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

To soften some of the noise he hears,
The iguana stuffs leaves in his ears.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Growing Body and Mind - LP Zoo

Amare's a gorilla who
Is growing through his teenage years
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,
And boy a big boy he appears.
Over four hundred pounds in weight,
And standing over six feet tall,
He is an ape that's truly great.
When all stretched out he's quite a sprawl.
Just chilling out is something that
Amare likes to be about,
Spending time in the habitat,
Thinking his great ape thoughts no doubt.

In Amare's head what thoughts dwell?
Amare knows but does not tell.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

How Chow! - LP Zoo

A baby wood turtle does do
Concentration on having lunch
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
Upon a waxworm he does munch.
This is part of a diet that
Will help the wood turtle grow well
And healthy in the habitat,
In time and place under his shell.
To chew, does the turtle have teeth?
No, instead he has a sharp beak,
And mashes the worm underneath,
An efficient eating technique.

In small  pieces the worm does be
Swallowed, tummy bound - turtlely.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Phraay's Phrase - LP Zoo

An Asiian small clawed otter who
Is named Phraay and is looking out
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,
And's in a chatty mood no doubt,
As in a hollow log he be,
Giving an echo to his chat
In chirps and barks and squeaks does he
Sound off throughout his habitat.
It's hard to know what's on Phraay's mind,
As out of the log he does peek.
As to what matters he's opined,
One must understand otter speak.

Please come by and visit Phraay.
Who knows what he will have to say!

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Polar Bear Day '20 - LP Zoo

See both Talini and Siku,
She and he polar bears come out
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,
With a vital message no doubt
About the importance of all
Helping save the arctic sea ice.
Cut on carbon use be the call.
Less energy use would be nice,
So global warming will be less.
There are good alternatives that
Will allow for better progress
For polar bears' wild habitat.

Talini and Siku do make
A plea for wild polar bears' sake.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Snow Fishing - LP Zoo

Polar bear, Talini, does do
Some pawsome fishing in the snow,
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
Down deep in the drift she does go.
There's a snow making machine that
Does spit the freshly made snow out
Into Talin's habitat,
And she can smell some fish no doubt,
Cuz the keepers put some fish in
The snow while it is being made.
The pile comes out and once again
Her fishing skills can be displayed.

With new snow Talini does wish
That snow is gonna come with fish.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Bella Turns Five - LP Zoo

Happy Birthday Bella girl who
February 24th be,
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,
A sweet five year old young lady.
Her gorilla family all
Celebrated her day with her,
And birthday Bella had a ball
With the festivities for sure.
Pinatas, she went in pursuit,
Breaking them open to get at
A lot of goodies, grains and fruit,
To share throughout the habitat.

A high five for Bella to say
Have a wonderful fifth birthday.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

All Charm - LP Zoo

A hooded merganser male duck
Ducks out from the family stuff,
Wishing his female mate good luck.
As a parent he's done enough.
Once she lays the eggs he is gone,
Leaving all of the rest to her.
It's time that he be moving on,
A one sided affair for sure.
And soon he's putting himself out
To find another female that
Will succumb to his charm no doubt.
He's charmer of the habitat.

Mr. hooded merganser who
Charms here at the Lincoln Park Zoo.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Pontu - LP Zoo

A white-blotched river stingray be
A handsome dude and named Pontu.
A fish in water does be he
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
The white spots on his back are thought
To act as camouflage so that
When he dives under sand a lot,
He's hidden in the habitat.
And if there be a pressing threat
Pontu can use his tail to sting
A predator who won't forget
The ouch that such an act does bring.

Here in the Zoo it's a good guess
That Pontu is predatorless.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Good Example - LP Zoo

Ten month old Mondika does do
A lot of munching this and that,
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,
Veggies found in the habitat,
Lettuce and carrots to enjoy,
Along with other veggies good
For a growing gorilla boy.
Human parents wish their kids would
Be more like Mondika as he
Is always eating his veggies,
And doing so quite happily,
Excited on his veggie spree.

In his way Mondika does set
A good example young can get.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Lucky Jack - LP Zoo

The meerkat, Jack, is one guy who
Is living out his golden years,
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,
With good reason for zesty cheers.
Last year with all his buddies dead,
Fourteen year old Jack was alone.
Then three's company came instead,
And Jack was in a happy zone.
A mom and her two daughters came
To give old Jack some company.
And now Jack is back on his game,
Being the charmer he can be.

Though Jack may now be gray and old,
There is no doubt that Jack struck gold.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Rompers - LP Zoo

Young giraffes, Rae and Finely, do
A romp about in playful way,
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,
On a warm February day.
It's been a while since they've been out
In the Chicago winter cold.
The youngsters are happy no doubt
For lots more romper room twofold.
They swing their legs, they stretch their necks,
And all around the yard they move,
Making a bunch of fun connects
As they get back to outside groove.

Watching the romping girl and boy
Is certainly a watchful joy.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Harvey - LP Zoo

Howdy Harvey and welcome to
African penguin colony
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
You are as cute as you can be.
Hatched out just a few months ago,
You're now checking out this and that,
Spreading your wings as to and fro
You waddle through the habitat.
You're losing most of your gray fuzz
And growing feathers black and white,
Getting ready for swimming cuz
You know you're not a bird of flight.

Quite soon you'll be seen in the pool
Giving that look of "Boy I'm cool."

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Three's Company - LP Zoo

Polygamous flamingos do
Be a trio that can be seen,
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,
Bonded together 'twixt and 'tween.
There's one female with two males that
Stick together year after year,
Busy about the habitat
In all in which they persevere,
Including egg incubation
In their built mud mound nest they share.
And even sneaky stuff be done -
Stealing from a flamingo pair.

Quite colorful trio no doubt,
Come see if you can pick them out.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Sniff of Romance - LP Zoo

Siku, male polar bear, does do
A lot of sniffing in the air,
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,
To get a good nose full of where
His girlfriend, Talini, does be at,
Inside or outside, south or north,
She's surely in the habitat.
Siku does sniff and then heads forth
To find Talini and find out
If she is in a mating mood,
A mood Siku is in no doubt.
It's time for two not solitude.

Siku follows Talini's scent.
For him will it be time well spent.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Tongue Shooter - LP Zoo

A cricket hunting I do go.
I do love crickets, yes I do,
Such a tasty bug, doncha know,
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
This chameleon's ready for
The hunt in leafy wooded scene,
Hoping for the crickets galore,
As I am camouflaged in green.
And when a cricket I sense near,
I get myself readied no doubt,
And that cricket does disappear,
Caught by my tongue that I stick out.

When cricket hunting I do be,
There is no cricket safe from me.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

She Makes Her Move - LP Zoo

She and he polar bears do do
Some spooning on a snowy day
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
Mating season is underway.
Most often he is after her,
But for now Talini does be
The attention seeker for sure,
Flirting with Siku openly.
Siku does seem very pleased that
Talini's giving him a lot
Of lovin' in the habitat.
Such attention's better than not.

Come visit this polar bear pair
Through all the good times that they share.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Young Greeter - LP Zoo

Curious Mondika does do
A coming real close meet and greet
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,
Giving a "Howdy" that's so sweet.
The nine month old gorilla boy
Has gotten used to humans here,
And really does seem to enjoy
Giving humans a look see near.
He'll come close to the window glass,
And with an adoring look he'll
Greet all the humans as they pass,
All in all a charming appeal!

So maybe when you do arrive
Mondika will give a high five.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Pool Talk - LP Zoo

Talini's swimming in the pool,
So Siku saunters down to say
"Howdy" to her and act so cool,
Showing off in his macho way.
Talini swims over to where
Siku is standing on a rock.
Their heads close together the pair
Seem to be having a good talk,
Communicating very well,
Getting along nicely no doubt,
As both happy faces do tell.
What do polar bears talk about?

Listen to this talkative two
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Gibbon Golden Years - LP Zoo

The white cheeked gibbons, Mom and Dad,
Are empty nesters so they do
More together - good times be had
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
Creme colored Mom is checking out
The fur in mostly black Dad and
Giving a fine grooming no doubt
So Dad will end up looking grand.
Together for decades this pair
Have raised several male offspring,
Now they have each other to share,
Including daily songs to sing.

Happy days, Burma and Caruso,
As through your golden years you go.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Otter be Swimming - LP Zoo

This otter sure ought to know that
Chicago winter is still here,
As I check out my habitat
And see the wintry stuff appear,
And feel the chill that's in the air.
But with my furry coat on me
I really do not have a care,
And venture forth quite happily,
Heading through all the snow and ice
To my pool to take a long dip,
Which in all seasons is quite nice,
And so well worth the short land trip.

While swimming I will wave to you
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Lily and Nox - LP Zoo

Nox and Lily, a twosome who
Are red river hogs, he and she,
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
And in a courtship they do be.
They snuggle together so that
No outside distractions will block
Their hearing in their habitat.
While in deep sandy pillow talk
They also sniff each other's scent
In glands located near their eyes.
Lots of quality time is spent
In their romantic enterprise.

In hog heaven these hogs do share
Lots of lovin' - this close knit pair.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Buffy Buffed Up - LP Zoo

Buffy, the ostrich, likes to do
A buffing up as she struts by,
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,
Just in case there's an ostrich guy
Who may be wanting to court her.
But she knows it is a fact that
There's no right now suitors for sure
Anywhere near her habitat.
But Buffy's ready when maybe
An ostrich fellow will appear,
And then courtship activity
May or may not make Buffy cheer.

In the meantime buffed Buffy is
Waiting for some matchmaking biz.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Takin Taking in the Cold - LP Zoo

This Sichuan takin does do
A stroll on a cold winter day,
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,
Striking a fine pose on display.
This type of takin does hail from
The Himalayan Mountains high
Where cold can be quite troublesome.
But takins keep out the chill - why?
Because they grow a second coat
Over protective, oily skin.
And as cold air goes down the throat,
It's warmed before to the lungs in.

When Chicago feels winter cold,
The takin's fine in fleece of gold.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Eli and Susie - LP Zoo

Eli and Susie, two chimps who
Will be coming to join the troop
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,
Bringing to seven in this group,
With four females and three males that
Will all join in this time and place,
And be found in the habitat,
Sharing inside and outside space.
From California come the pair,
From a closed down facility.
Here both will get very good care.
A very good move this should be.

Welcome to Susie and Eli,
Looking forward to saying, "Hi."

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Triumph and Dash - LP Zoo

Dash and Triumph, klipspringers who
Are a Mr. and Mrs. yes
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,
With many Dad and Mom success.
Their offspring are at other zoos,
And so it's hoped that the twosome
Will parent again if they choose.
A baby would be most welcome.
Courtship behavior can be seen
In both vocal and touching ways.
The couple sharing 'twixt and 'tween,
Very affectionate displays.

Hopefully when all's said and done,
There'll be another little one.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Pilchard and Maynard - LP Zoo

Pilchard and Maynard, two males who
Are African penguins and gay,
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,
Oft seen together on display.
It is a fact on penguins that
A same sex bonding does occur,
Accepted in the habitat
By all the colony for sure.
Maynard and Pilchard share a nest,
Keeping each other company,
And of course are always well dressed,
A happy couple they do be,

Their colored bands, so you can track,
Pilchard - purple, Maynard - blue/black.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Chacoan Peccarys - LP Zoo

Chacoan peccarys, we do
Bristle about the outside scene
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo,
Always with a busy routine.
From South America we kind
Are in the Gran Chaco hot plain,
Very few of us left to find,
Endangered in that wild domain.
A pig like mammal with strong snout
That can roll cacti to the ground.
Our teeth then pull the spines out,
A cacti salad - tummy bound.

Chicago winters here do mean that
No cacti grow in the habitat.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Hands Full - LP Zoo

Big sis, Patty, gladly does do
A babysit with little bro
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
Both of them put on quite a show.
Little bro, Mondika, has got
A lot to show and tell big sis,
As they sit in a quiet spot,
Sharing moments of sibling bliss.
Seven year old Patty can be
A practice Mom honing her skill
For future time maternally,
If Mondika would just sit still!

Visitors watch this sibling pair,
Tickled by moments that they share.

Sense Sonnet - Pumper

Eastern Newt - LP Zoo

I am an eastern newt and do
Like being in water a lot
Here at home in Lincoln Park Zoo.
A good direction sense I've got.
Eastern North America be
Where most of my kin do reside.
In Childrens Zoo you can find me.
The howling wolves can be your guide.
When I was young I was all red.
As an adult I'm olive green,
Four inches long from tail to head,
With lots of spots scaled 'twixt and 'tween.

If I see you are coming by,
This newt will surface to say, "Hi."