Zebras, Giraffes, and Wolves...Oh my

I really need a longer zoom lens. I have a 400 lens which is pretty cool. I thought about taking it when I went to the Living Desert but I have to use a tripod with it and since I was going with other people, I thought it would be rude. Then I thought about taking my 70-180 macro lens. But it's kind of heavy and I'd also really need a tripod for that. Plus, since it's a macro lens, it doesn't focus too fast. So I took my 28-105 which wasn't long enough for some of the animals. In the interest of full disclosure, I did do some cropping on these pictures (besides the sometimes crop to 8x10).

The zebras is the most obvious because I cropped it to panorama. I also cropped a little off the right side.

I cropped a little off the bottom of the giraffe to get rid of a rail the giraffe was peering over and then cropped it to 8x10.

The wolf is also cropped to 8x10 but this one has the most significant cropping on it (top and bottom as well as the sides) to get in tighter on it. I cropped maybe a 3rd of this photo. Which niggles at me a little but it was just too far away. Sigh.

Anyway...I am looking at the 70-300 VR (vibration reduction) lens that is coming out from Nikon soon. Hopefully soon. It should come in handy for tri photos as well. I put my name on the list at B&H to let me know when it's in. Cross your fingers!