Whenever we were afforded some recreation/relaxation time, many of us visited the Kuwait national zoo. This is definitely one of the most unrestrictive zoos I've ever seen. You can't beat the cost: FREE! There's plenty of parking. You see some rather exotic creatures (they look like they're from another era or planet); you are able to handle the animals (highly recommended... NOT!); and there are no cages or glass sheets to protect you from the dangerous critters. |  | ||||||||
The Kuwait Lizard Here are some pictures of the famous Kuwait lizard. They can be found almost anywhere in the desert. There are so many along the roads that one of our medic drivers claims to have a half dozen roadkills! From a distance, with only the desert for a background, solo photos of the lizard are not too impressive because they look small, like the lizards we have back home. But check out the photos with the soldier (non-medic, of course) as a reference point! | |||||||||
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 | These methodical creatures can be found in almost as many places as the above lizard. Unlike the lizard, however, these tend to travel in huge herds. They are probably the equivalent of our beef cattle in Kansas. They saunter around the desert with their camel herder grazing on the sparse desert grass (No, not the herder, silly; the camels graze on the grass). One would presume that camel meat is quite tasty, especially after listening to the natives rave about the local delicacy, camel hump. Also, like our cows, camels come in a variety of colors. Apparently, the white camels are many times more valuable than the brown/black/grayish version. The herd pictured here must belong to a RICH herder. | ||||||||
One of the most feared critters to those new to the desert, scorpions are actually no more dangerous than bees. Then again, how many people do you know enjoy bee stings? Look carefully at the top picture. You should see two scorpions in a battle to the death! At the time I took the photo, each scorpion was holding the other's tail with one pincher. The photo on the bottom shows the losing scorpion a few days after the match. He/She died of complications from the fight despite our finest effort at medical care. |  |  | |||||||
 | This creepy critter is actually not a real spider, but looks like one. It is very, very fast and hard to catch (I plead the fifth; I can neither admit nor deny trying to catch one). It bites when handled or cornered (such as in a sleeping bag or boot). The good news is that it is not poisonous. Did you say you "DO" or "DON'T" know anyone that enjoyed bee stings? | ||||||||