While most of Really Weird Real World focuses on weird facts and folklore, this page is set aside for interesting (or funny) fauna I've encountered - click here if fungi are more your thing!
This lion was patrolling an enclosure built around a mock fort in London Zoo, occasionally making a diaphragm-trembling roar. It was a pretty neat set-up with a variety of areas for the big cats to explore. It also let you see them really close up... though they're still not as intimidating as the Lions of Tsavo or the Champawat Tigress!
There's a zoo on the Isle of Wight (called Amazon World) with a walk-in enclosure for flamingoes and other water birds... and this fellow liked to hide behind the door and startle people coming in!
There's also a farm on the Isle of Wight that specializes in garlic - but they keep a fair amount of woodland and traditional English hedgerows, making it ideal for insects like this ladybird!
There are beehives tucked away between the tangled hawthorn hedges, all the better to keep the fields pollinated.
Here's a shot with slightly more perspective on the same bees...
This poor fellow was fighting against the pumped current in his tank at London Zoo. He did seem pretty interested in the visitors walking past though!
The penguins of London Zoo spent about as much time watching me as I did watching them. I was wearing black clothing when I visited... perhaps they thought I was a giant penguin, bringing them greetings from a far away realm?
Thanks for checking out this gallery - if you're interested in animals, you might like...