Zoobilee Zoo and Captain Kangaroo

We had a visitor at work earlier this week who looked a lot like Captain Kangaroo. I mentioned this to Staci at lunch, which led to the topic of 1980s children's television. She said that her favorite show as a child was Zoobilee Zoo (see full cast, left). When she described it a bit, I realized that this was a show I also loved as a very young child, but had never been able to find again in my adult life, as I had no idea what it was called. I remember seeing it only a few times, but absolutely loving it, particularly the character below who I always thought was a cat but was apparently actually Whazzat Kangaroo. (In my defense, she looks a lot like a cat -- cat ears, cat tail...) I also was a fan of the character who I thought was a racoon, but was really Bill der Beaver. It's exciting to finally rediscover this gem. Of course I looked for it on youtube, and there are actually several full episodes available. I started to watch one, but it turns out it's actually pretty boring and predictable. Not surprising, I guess, given that it went off the air in 1987 and I was therefore only three when I would have watched it (although maybe I was watching reruns). It is focused around a group of people in animal suits, who are called Zoobles. The viewers, for some reason, are addressed as Zoobaroos by the mayor (in center of picture above), who helps sum up the moral lessons learned by the characters in each episode. To the viewer above the age of 4, it's pretty trite and has annoying songs, but it's nevertheless satisfying to finally answer one of those little questions that's been bothering me for years (what WAS that weird show with the animal suits??)

Does anyone else remember this fantastic program?