Plenty of articles and blogs containing some valuable tips for a photo safari to the zoo.
The following linked article, from the "SLR Photography Guide Blog" also contains the EXIF data and suggested camera settings for some more creative food for thought:
In particular, the challenge of shooting through cages and/or wires.. and I quote;
"Eliminate cages. There is nothing more annoying to a zoo photographer than not being able to photograph through the cage and capture only the animal. The best way to do this, is to zoom your lens to a longer focal length and place the focal spot on the animal itself. This should in most cases, eliminate the cage. A trick my partner uses, is to set your DSLR camera to P mode, zoom your lens out to a longer focal length and take your shot. This tip also tends to ensure the focus is on the animal and not the cage.
If all else fails, move your physical position and try again."
And..
"Eliminate backgrounds where possible. Nothing is more distracting in a zoo photo than a fence in the background, or a feeding bucket. Where possible, always make the main focus on the animal. I often do this by repositioning myself so the distracting object isn’t in view, or using aperture mode (set to a small F number) to nicely smooth the background."
The following linked article, from the "SLR Photography Guide Blog" also contains the EXIF data and suggested camera settings for some more creative food for thought:
"Zoo Photography – Tips for photographing zoo animals"
In particular, the challenge of shooting through cages and/or wires.. and I quote;
"Eliminate cages. There is nothing more annoying to a zoo photographer than not being able to photograph through the cage and capture only the animal. The best way to do this, is to zoom your lens to a longer focal length and place the focal spot on the animal itself. This should in most cases, eliminate the cage. A trick my partner uses, is to set your DSLR camera to P mode, zoom your lens out to a longer focal length and take your shot. This tip also tends to ensure the focus is on the animal and not the cage.
If all else fails, move your physical position and try again."
And..
"Eliminate backgrounds where possible. Nothing is more distracting in a zoo photo than a fence in the background, or a feeding bucket. Where possible, always make the main focus on the animal. I often do this by repositioning myself so the distracting object isn’t in view, or using aperture mode (set to a small F number) to nicely smooth the background."
Have a read for yourselves.