The Manaus zoo (Wednesday, June 14)

We've heard about CIGS zoo in Manaus, where rescue animals are kept by the Brazilian Army's Instruction Center for Jungle War - Centro de Instrução de Guerra na Selva - and make sure to arrive early on a surprisingly cool drizzly day. We have the park pretty much to ourselves and see an impressive collection of animals held in the large open air area. Two giant anacondas or pythons lie curled up in a patch of water

A beautiful toucan reminds us of our Sam, who we recued when he was a baby, and who lived with us for 10 years

Some funny fluffy monkeys live on a small island

A very unhappy, but magnificent, leopard is stresswalking round and round in his enclosure, lips pulled back and panting. We later hear him roar his displeasure - a roar that fills the park

A pair of leopards chill on the roof of a shed in a large enclosure. A passing soldier informs us they were rescued together and never separated

We feel chills when we see the giant, and very still, alligator lying in the shade

We spend a while enjoying the sight of many colorful macaws flying around in a large aviary

- and are quite happy we did not meet any of these guys in the jungle