Visiting Caipora at the Phoenix Zoo

Two weeks ago, Denis and I scheduled a trip to the Phoenix Zoo specifically to see their new Big Cats of Arizona exhibit. Unfortunately, Dial-a-Ride was extremely late, and the loud woman complaining about how bad the driver was only made him drive slower. By the time we finally arrived at the zoo, we barely had an hour to explore, but what we did manage to see was choice. Come join us!

There's usually at least one egret hanging out here. Thursday was no exception.

These three javalinas found some shade. That one definitely looks like it's thinking, "What are you lookin' at?"

I went zipping around a corner and almost flattened this gopher squirrel. Didn't seem to bother it a bit because it barely moved.

Denis and I went to the zoo specifically to see its new Big Cats of Arizona Exhibit. It was rather fitting that the first time I saw Caipora the jaguar was when she was pacing overhead.

Caipora was very restless.

She was also very vocal-- and gorgeous!

Canyon Spotted Whiptail lizard

Daisies always make me smile.

I found a very informative YouTube video about the new Big Cats of Arizona exhibit. I couldn't get it to embed properly in this post, so I'm sharing a link to it instead. It's well worth the watch.

I hope you enjoyed your whirlwind visit!

The Vanishing Kind by Alice Henderson

 

First Line: After the recent rash of campus burglaries, the last thing Dane Fisher wanted was to be alone in this building late at night.

Wildlife biologist Alex Carter is thrilled when she's tasked with locating jaguars on a desert preserve in New Mexico. Jaguars once roamed throughout the Southwest, but now there are only a handful left. Alex hopes some of the elusive cats have found their way to this protected piece of land.

Nearby the preserve, a team of archaeologists is excavating the gravesite of a sixteenth-century Spanish conquistador. Alex meets the team and also comes in contact with a violent group of anti-immigrant vigilantes who demand that the archaeologists leave. 

When the vigilantes learn of Alex's job, they want to stop her as well. Since jaguars are federally endangered, concessions might be made so that wildlife can cross the border wall-- and these people want nothing to cross that wall.

Alex is working right in the middle of a powder keg, and jaguars aren't the only ones whose lives are in danger.

~

I have become a big fan of Alice Henderson's Alex Carter thrillers. I love their settings, all the information I learn about wildlife, and the strong, intelligent character of Alex herself. Unfortunately, I found The Vanishing Kind to be a bit disappointing. The book was trying to be too many things to too many people. Wildlife lovers. Remote settings lovers. Archaeology lovers. Spanish treasure lovers. Wilderness survival lovers. Then there are the white supremacists, and the resident billionaire who thinks his word is law. 

I'm also a bit tired of one character repeatedly showing up just in the nick of time to save Alex's bacon. If Alex is going to get in that type of mess, I'd love to see her get herself out of it instead of relying on a deus ex machina. 

I still love Alex's character, and I liked learning more about the jaguars, especially since I keep my eyes peeled for news of El Jefe, a jaguar roaming southeastern Arizona. Henderson includes how readers can learn more about these marvelous big cats at the end of the book. There is even timely information about the work (or lack thereof) of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. I'm just hoping that Alex's next adventure is a bit more... streamlined. 

The Vanishing Kind by Alice Henderson

eISBN: 9780063223073

William Morrow © 2025

eBook, 320 pages

Thriller, #4 Alex Carter

Rating: B-

Source: Net Galley