There has been some fantastic zoo news to hit my inbox, today. First, I'm sending out three cheers for C'Sar, the bull African Elephant at the NC Zoo. He came through his second cataract surgery successfully today. His vision has been declining rapidly for some time, now. The first surgical procedure to attempt a replacement lens was not fully successful, because his cornea was too damaged to support the specially designed lenses, according to the surgeon, Dr. Richard McMullen. The cataract removal did, however, improve C'sar's vision. Now, the second surgery is complete and the old man should be returning to his exhibit again soon. It appears there are possible contact lenses in the works for C'sar, as well. These specially-made lenses, if they are needed once the staff assesses C'sar's post-surgery vision, and they work, will help the elephant improve his lost near-sighted vision. Either way, I'm thrilled to hear that the old boy is on the mend. Congrats to C'sar and to my friends on the NC Zoo staff!
This image of C'sar was taken recently. He's being fed a peanut butter sandwich by Angus Mercer, the man who donated the money to purchase him from the Toledo Zoo back when C'sar was just 4 feet tall at the shoulder. He's grown quite a bit since then, wouldn't you say? Mr. Mercer paid a visit to C'sar for the first time in 35 years.
In bonus news, at another zoo I've known and loved, the red-ruffed lemurs at the Sante Fe Community College Teaching Zoo (where I got my zoology degree) have a baby. Woot! As my friend's daugher "Chibi-tan" would say, "Isn't she cute?"
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Monday, May 28, 2012
Remembering Those We've Lost
Here I am feeding Moja treats. |
Here I am with Isabeau |
our country. It's an important day in my family and always has been, since so many of my family have served in the armed forces. In fact, I blogged about my grandfather over at amandacorlies.com. But, I also find myself thinking about some of the many animals I've loved and lost today. So, I thought I'd share some images I found of them. I hope you enjoy a lovely holiday with friends and family, today. Thanks so much to all those who have and still do serve our country!
Nita and Teela |
I have a tattoo of Grady the leopard on my ankle |
Tonto letting me hand feed him browse. |
Forest Gump the Puffin who didn't like to swim. |
My angel of Mercy, pictured here with Cinco |
Sting the Blue-Crowned Hanging Parrot. His partner was Roxanne. |
Bambesa, my favorite Okapi and her calf. |
Labels:
Baby Animals,
dogs,
Elephants,
Giraffe,
Leapard,
Memorial Day,
Okapi,
Parrot,
Puffins,
Rottwieler,
Zookeepers
Friday, May 25, 2012
Plastic Updates and an NC Zoo Video.
My inbox gets filled with all manner of fantastic things some days. It pays to have friends all over the world who think of me and send me cool stuff. Thanks to all of you who have done so. It's always appreciated, even if I don't end up blogging about it.
One of the tidbits that just came across my computer is an update to the last story posted about banning plastic in the state of Hawaii. Los Angeles has now joined San Francisco in banning the use of plastic bags city-wide, making them the largest city so far to institute the ban. This makes me deliriously happy. Keep it up people! Let's make non-biodegradable plastic a thing of our past. Well, that will be hard, since it's shelf like is something like 10,000 years, but still, stopping the demand for its production is a serious step in the right direction.
The other bit of news I received is a little news segment for Roanoke Virginia's Daytime Blue Ridge program on channel 10 about the NC Zoo. A good portion of the short video is filmed in the RJ Reynold's Forest Aviary, where I spent ten years taking care of the birds. I really miss working there sometimes, so it was lovely to see some of my old friends, feathered and otherwise, doing what they do. I enjoyed a good chuckle at the narrator who says he loves seeing the "animals and birds" as if they are two separate things. Still, I thought you might enjoy it. If you live "in a day's drive" of Asheboro, North Carolina, or even if you don't, the NC Zoo is worth making time for. It really is one of the best zoos in the world, and the largest zoo in the world in land mass. Don't miss it if you have the chance to visit. I promise you won't be disappointed.
One of the tidbits that just came across my computer is an update to the last story posted about banning plastic in the state of Hawaii. Los Angeles has now joined San Francisco in banning the use of plastic bags city-wide, making them the largest city so far to institute the ban. This makes me deliriously happy. Keep it up people! Let's make non-biodegradable plastic a thing of our past. Well, that will be hard, since it's shelf like is something like 10,000 years, but still, stopping the demand for its production is a serious step in the right direction.
The other bit of news I received is a little news segment for Roanoke Virginia's Daytime Blue Ridge program on channel 10 about the NC Zoo. A good portion of the short video is filmed in the RJ Reynold's Forest Aviary, where I spent ten years taking care of the birds. I really miss working there sometimes, so it was lovely to see some of my old friends, feathered and otherwise, doing what they do. I enjoyed a good chuckle at the narrator who says he loves seeing the "animals and birds" as if they are two separate things. Still, I thought you might enjoy it. If you live "in a day's drive" of Asheboro, North Carolina, or even if you don't, the NC Zoo is worth making time for. It really is one of the best zoos in the world, and the largest zoo in the world in land mass. Don't miss it if you have the chance to visit. I promise you won't be disappointed.
Labels:
Asheboro,
Aviary,
Banning Plastic,
birds,
Channel 10,
Hawaii,
Los Angeles,
NC Zoo,
North Carolina Zoo,
Roanoke
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Banning Plastic: Mahalo, Hawaii!
Green Sea Turtle with Plastic Bags |
Albatross Carcass, Cause of Death: Eating Plastic |
North Pacific Gyre Trash |
So, what can you do about it? Well, the best thing you can do is stop consuming so much plastic. If you don't demand it, there won't be so much call to supply it. This means making some choices that might not be comfortable at first, but once you get used to the changes, this too will become second nature. You can do things like buying reusable grocery bags for your shopping trips, using non-plastic reusable drinking cups for your drinks. Refraining from purchasing so many bottled beverages in plastics. Buying green products made from recycled materials as much as possible. And recycling is so important. Please be sure you are working toward being part of the solution rather than continuing to be part of the problem. Because change happens at the local level, one person at a time. Your personal choices really do make all the difference!
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Cinco Dingo Joins the Fire Department
Okay, not really. Though, she will definitely volunteer to be the Forest Fire Company's new mascot. My little dog is really cute, and seriously smart, and she loves having her picture taken. I fear she's far too much of a diva to rush into anything burning for anyone else, however. Well, except maybe for me. I can see her trying to save me. Cinco's loyal that way. She's probably also a little bit too timid for the job. However, she certainly didn't mind visiting the brand new fire house next door to help me flirt with all the hot fire fighters. The view from our back yard these days is divine. All those sweaty people out washing their fire trucks and carrying big hoses and rushing off to save people. Woot! I digress. The Forest Fire Company is a volunteer fire department. They are in need of contributions to complete their new fire station so they can best serve the people of my community. Visit their website for more information.
Check out Cinco's day as a fire fighter:
Check out Cinco's day as a fire fighter:
Where do I sign up? |
I'd make a really good mascot! |
Gramma and Grampa are so proud! |
Off to fight fires! Wish me luck! |
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
When Animals Get Even: Theory of Mind
Nurture by Amanda Corlies Sandos |
This often surprises people, particularly those who have not made their living taking care of animals. It doesn't surprise me. I've seen chimps show not only planning and deception, but also empathy and caring, and not just for their troupe but also for me. I have a short story called "Bonding with Hondo," scheduled to publish soon in The Canary about this very experience, in fact. I posted it here several months ago when Hondo passed away. But, it's not only chimps who we can apply this theory to.
Charlie, the lowland gorilla, once gave me the best gift ever. When I worked at the zoo aviary, we often had to cut the bamboo that was growing all around the outside of the building. It was a veritable jungle that threatened to grow over everything in its path. Charlie and his brother Curtis happened to live right next door with their family, and they loved bamboo browse. So, on a day I had cuttings, I called my friend Cori, one of the gorilla keepers, and told her I was bringing over treats for the boys. Cori met me at the back gate and let me into the area behind the gorilla exhibit, where the animals and I were only separated by mesh grates. This was the area where the keepers often came throughout the day to perform training sessions with the gorillas.
When I arrived, Cori and I fell into a conversation about something I don't remember. Curtis and Charlie sat beside us patiently waiting for their yummy snack. After a while, Charlie got up and moved away. Cori and I were so busy yacking we didn't pay attention, until the male gorilla, who was already starting to get a bit of silver on his back, returned with a whole bouquet of tiny wildflowers he had picked and gathered from around his exhibit. He offered me the flowers in trade for the bamboo. I cried and was so obviously thrilled by the gesture that Charlie learned this was the way to my heart. From that day forward, if there was anything blooming, even a weed, he would offer me those flowers in hopes I would trade it for food.
And, lest you think these behaviors apply only to Great Apes, you would be mistaken. Read about Wilma Lou Teal, the duck who once saved her mate from certain death, or the elephant I was visiting at the Brookfield Zoo when I was a kid who picked up the rock a boy threw at him and chucked it back hitting the boy right between the eyes. I had a hard time feeling bad for the boy who bled all over the place from the cut, but was otherwise fine. Or, the dolphin from Sea World who got fed up one day and started putting her trainers in time out when the fish wasn't cut to suit her. Perhaps soon, I'll write up that story here for your enjoyment. The point is, it happens all the time. Animals are way smarter than we like to give them credit for. So perhaps offering them a bit more respect would be a good plan. Because if you don't treat them well, you never know what they might plot to get even.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Moms and Their Cute Kids
For all you moms out there who rush around 24/7 looking after your cute kids, I salute you. Thanks for all you do. Here are some other moms and their cute kids just for you. Happy Mother's Day!
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Shanthi the Elephant Plays Harmonica
Over at The National Zoo, the keepers recently noticed a possibly musically inclined female Asian elephant. So they decided to give her some instruments and see what happens. Check out this awesome video. As it turns out, Shanthi is a composer, who enjoys performing for her keepers of her own volition without being prompted or rewarded with food. Shanthi even performs one of her original songs in the video. Awesome. Thanks to Susana Polo of The Mary Sue for turning me on to this.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Pierre, Lions, and Maurice Sendak
While reflecting on the stories of Maurice Sendak today, in light of the news of his passing, I realized just how much his stories have affected my life. It was Pierre: A Cautionary Tale which first started me asking my family if we could go see the lions at the zoo. I bugged them relentlessly until they took me to The National Zoo, most likely in hopes that it would shut me up. But, the lion in this story is also literally the very first thing I can remember trying to draw. So, thanks you Mr. Sendak for the inspiration and for turning me on to all the wild things of the world. Here, in all it's glory is my very favorite childhood story:
Sunday, May 6, 2012
The Doggy Birthday Reprise
Cinco and Mercy |
She still sleeps like this |
And like this, too. |
They were the best of friends! |
Happy Birthday Cinco! I love you! |
Labels:
Bosom Buddies,
Cinco,
Cinco de Mayo,
Creative Antics,
Cushing's Disease,
dogs,
Mercy,
Puppy Pictures
Friday, May 4, 2012
Red Wolves and a Good Howling
Sometimes I am riding along on my typical day, and random things that I miss about the zoo will pop into my head. Mind you, there is a whole lot I don't miss, so I'm not sorry I moved forward with my life. But, occasionally, these things hit me and make me momentarily nostalgic for my old life. Today, it was the memory of the red wolves that lived in the exhibit next door to the aviary. Often times, in the early morning, when I was just stepping from my car at dawn to begin my day, the pack would greet me with a howl. Of course, they weren't actually greeting me, but that's how it felt. It always made all the hair on my body stand on end for a moment, and then I would smile and feel this kind of elation that I'm not sure I can put into words. Today, I found myself wishing for a good red wolf howl. They sound a bit different from a timber wolf. It's kind of like a cross between a timber and coyote. Anyway, here is a little video I found from the World Conservation Center in South Salem, New York, so you can hear what I mean. Hope you have a fantastic Friday!
Labels:
Howling,
Red Wolves,
Wolves,
World Conservation Center
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Iceberg the White Orca Whale
The first recorded white adult male orca whale (Orcinus orca), also known as the killer whale, has been recorded off the coast of Russia. Given the name Iceberg by the group who discovered him, the Russian researchers left last week on another expedition to learn more about the elusive male. Though they are calling the whale an albino in the press, it does not appear certain if the whale has been determined as such yet. It could suffer from leucism as opposed to albinism. The two are similar and often one is mistaken for the other. Where leucism causes defective pigment cells so that patches of the skin, or sometimes all of it, are unable to make pigment. Albanism is a reduction in melanin only. I've been searching for more information and have yet to find any scientific discussion of this whale as an albino. Regardless, he is most definitely white, and he appears to be more than healthy. Making it to adulthood as a male orca takes some serious hootspa, as you might imagine. Anyway, there's more about this over at the Huffington Post, and be sure to check out this fist footage taken of Iceburg.
Labels:
Albinisn,
Huffington Post,
Iceberg,
Killer Whale,
Leucism,
Orca,
White Orca
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