Fossil Rim, Glen Rose

Grant's Zebra can be found here in decent numbers, and visitors typically look forward to seeing them. There was a herd of about a dozen that we encountered, and they will readily approach a car looking for food. I was watching zebras approaching the two people in the front seats. With my window rolled down in the back, I did not notice the ones coming from behind us, so it was startling and funny to suddenly be staring at one directly in the face. These animals are a favorite among visitors, most likely due to their beauty.

This fascinating herd animal is now extinct in the wild. It was once found in North Africa. Fossil Rim contains quite a few specimens, and they are often seen very close to the road. Their horns are impressive, and from some points of view, they appear to only have one horn. The ongoing joke was that this was a "unicorn". This animal is being bred here so that they may survive into the future.

Both the black and white rhinos are in desperate need of help as poachers seek them for their horns. Both of these species are at Fossil Rim. We did not encounter any on the main drive since they are kept in pens. At the very end of the driving trip, we pulled over and walked past a koi pond (with more turtles than koi) in order to reach a platform just above one of the pens. A rhino was there, covered in dust. It exhaled loudly as we approached. This animal seemed a little bit nervous about approaching humans, but could you blame it? They can eat more than a bale of hay in one day and weigh a few tons. It was an impressive animal to view fairly close.

The world's largest bird can be found here, and they might intimidate some people with their size. They seem fearless and will quickly approach a vehicle in hopes of getting some food. A visitor will likely be looking at one of these from a close range. The gift shop actually sells some hollowed out eggs from ostriches, so it is possible to get an idea of their size.

This South American native can now be found among some of the herd animals of Fossil Rim. They were actually brought here in the hope that they will become a protector of some of the smaller species since they have been known to do this. Coyotes can sometimes cause trouble in this area. This animal will be among those that hope you have a handout for them as you drive by.

These birds come from areas in the far north such as Russia, Canada, and Alaska. yet, they are also found here in the less-than-arctic hill area of Fossil Rim. A pair of them approached the vehicle at one point during the drive. It is interesting to watch the way that they walk and see how they are balanced on very thin legs.

We did manage to spot at least one variety of the Greater Kudu, which is an African antelope. It is easily identified by the stripe patterns on its body. There are not many of these animals at Fossil Rim compared to others, however they might be easier to spot since they are close to the pasture area.

The Reticulated Giraffe is always a favorite among visitors, and th vast majority of people who come to Fossil Rim should be able to encounter them somewhere. They often are on hand to accept food from vehicles. They are also frequently observed to be eating vegetation from the branches of trees. The savannah like areas dotted with trees are an ideal habitat for them.

As visitors prepare to transit through the conservation area, they are given a sheet with photos of various animals that they might encounter. The Gemsbock is one of the easiest to identify because of the unmistakeable pattern on the face. These African antelopes tend to have very long horns, making them a very interesting animal for viewing.

These deer are some of the most common types of herd animals that can be encountered. They come in many colors, and can often be distinguished by the unique antlers, although only the males will have them. They are from Europe and Asia and the deer tend to be spread out in many areas. It is common to see them mixing with other animals as well.