One of the very first animals we saw was one of Sarah's favorites: the manatee. There were three manatees swimming around and occasionally floating to the surface for a bite of lettuce. Sarah affectionately refers to them as "Sea Potatoes" because of their resemblance to, well, a potato.

Another remarkable aquatic creature that we saw at the zoo was the Weedy Seadragon. A close relative of the seahorse, the Weedy Seadragon looks like some creature out of mythology.

The Columbus Zoo has a wonderful Australia section. The architecture and the theming make you feel as if you've really stepped into Australia. Unfortunately, due to the cold weather, none of the outdoor animals were on display. But we did see quite a few other animals that we found very endearing when we visited Australia's indoor habitats.

The Tree Kangaroo was very sweet and the Dog-faced bat was actually very cute, but we were most charmed by the Feathertailed Glider. This tiny little mouse-like critter zipped and leaped and even seemed to fly from tree limb to tree limb, occasionally stopping for a sugary drink or to examine us with its big, shiny, black eyes. The Gliders were so adorable, Sarah and I were captivated by them for a very long time.

Moving on to the Congo section of the Zoo, the cold weather continued to keep any of the animals from being viewed in their outdoor habitats. Indoors, though, we did discover the Columbus Zoo's family of gorillas. We spent quite a long time watching the gorillas interact, including a spunky two-year-old gorilla. We also briefly saw the famous Colo, the first gorilla ever born in captivity. She is now 49 years old, and she likes to spend most of her time alone. Seeing her was like catching a glimpse of a celebrity.

As we continued our Zoo tour, we did see quite a few other animals: a rhinoceros, a timber wolf, some bison, a baby Asian elephant and his mother, some penguins (they didn't seem to mind the cold), a bobcat, and a goat with an attitude.

I was afraid, though, that the cold weather would keep me from seeing my favorite animal: the river otter. We skeptically approached the display housing the river otters. No sign of them in the grass or water, but as we turned the corner to peer into their indoor den... two perky, whiskered faces peered back at us as if they were anticipating our visit! I was thrilled! Sarah and I stood and watched the otters for a very long time. They put on a delightful show for us. First, the two of them wrestled and played with each other in their den. Then the male ventured outdoors to frolic and play in the water. Seeing my otters was the highlight of an already wonderful day!

The Columbus Zoo has always been a wonderful zoo, and it continues to grow and develop. Sarah and I look forward to more visits... especially once the weather warms up!