Photographs of 'Bronze Lions in the Park' around a'Water Fountain' in 2010 AD.

Photographer Erina Kaika

Photographs of 'Bronze Lions in the Park' around a'Water Fountain' in 2010 AD.

Photographer Erina Kaika

Jerusalem water cisten from the King David's time, placed in the backyard of St. Anna Church.

In the early part of the twentieth century, the Syrian brown bear (Ursus arctos syriacus) disappeared from the landscape of the Land of Israel. In the distant past, bears were quite common in this country, and the Biblical literature suggests that once upon a time, the human inhabitants of the region would frequently encounter these beasts. The bears in the zoo are among the last survivors of this subspecies, which is now thought to be extinct in the wild. Incidentally, these bears are generally regarded today as members of the same species as the Grizzlies.

The family of bears in our exhibit is relatively large, very active, and quite irrepressible. At times you can meet the keepers at this exhibit, and hear interesting stories about the individual bears. On any day, you can see them frolic in the water, and see unmistakable evidence of their keen intelligence.

http://www.jerusalemzoo.org.il/english/upload/tour/bear.html

A gift of the Zaidenberg family of Chicago, Illinois, the Penguin Exhibit was opened in the summer of 2000. It is one of the most attractive exhibits in the zoo, enabling the public to view our Black-footed penguins (Spheniscus demersus) both on land and in the water. Although we tend to automatically associate penguins with frigid environments, the Black-footed species is native to South Africa, and is accustomed to a warm temperate climate. In fact, there are some 17 species of penguin in the world, and only two of them actually live in Antarctica.

Two or three feedings take place in the exhibit every day. If you're lucky enough to witness one of these feedings, you'll undoubtedly be amused by the raucous manner in which the penguins gang up on their keeper to receive their portion of fish, which is then swallowed whole, with one long gulp. Also noteworthy is the ability of the keeper who must, amidst all the insanity, keep track of just who is eating what, and how much!

http://www.jerusalemzoo.org.il/english/upload/tour/penguins.html

The village fresh-water spring is the traditional location where Mary and Elizabeth met. The spring waters are considered holy by the Christian pilgrims who visit the site and fill bottles with its waters.