Good news & Zoo
The good news is that I deleted MYIE and downloaded Mozilla Firefox. Now I can go into the two journals that were always crashing on my other two browsers, so this makes me happy. Just keep this up Firefox!
Also, Happy Birthday to shinzelikeastar!
Decided to go to the zoo on Sunday because it will be too cold to go soon and we wanted to see the cubs again before they get too old. It was rather bittersweet for me. Found out two of my fav animals had been transported to another location, one of which died on the 12th and our baby elephant (who turns 3 this month) might be sold to another zoo. The two who were transported, orangutan brother and sister Azy & Indah, had been part of a research program for the past nine years. Dr. Rob Shumaker was head of the research involving a program where we could communicate with the orangutans using symbols. They'd have a few demonstrations a day where a few people could sit down and watch as he communicated with either Azy or Indah. We visited last in September, the month they left, and I sat down for a hour or more watching them. I'm glad I did now that they are gone. Dr. Rob Shumaker and some associates have started Great Ape Trust, a lovely sanctuary in Des Moines, Iowa for all four types of great apes: bonobos, chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans. It will be among the largest great ape facilities in North America and one of the first worldwide to include all four types of great ape. Their hope is to provide an honorable life for great apes, study the intelligence of great apes, advance conservation of great apes and provide unique educational experiences about great apes. By 1930, Orangutan populations are estimated to be at only 1%, with the other three ape species all under 10%. This makes what the Great Ape Trust is doing all the more important. I'm glad they chose two of our orangutans to be there among their first apes. Unfortunately, Indah was diagnosed with Bowel Syndrome at a young age and it advanced on her once she moved to her new home. After recent inactivity and loss of appetite, they did an examination and found an obstruction of the lower intestinal tract. During surgey to remove the obstruction, the surgical team discovered that her bowel syndrome had progressed into an untreatable terminal state. She was euthanized as the only humane option. Indah was only 24 years old. RIP Indah.
The baby elephant who might be sold to another zoo is a male named Kandula. He was born at the zoo to his mother, Shanti. He is the first baby elephant to survive at the zoo, the first one born died from a then unknown illness (also a son from Shanti), so Kandula's birth was highly anticipated. They don't want to sell him, but the keeper explained how the zoo is not yet able to provide the appropriate staff for a bull elephant. He is starting to show some signs of difficulty, which could just be him being a youngster. As long as he doesn't get too difficult to handle or show signs of aggression, then they should be able to keep him, as they are building a new Asian trail. The females will get a larger enclosure and they plan to make an additional enclosure for a few bull elephants (they hope to be one of the few North American Zoos to house male elephants for a local survival/breeding program). I'm hoping they are able to keep him once this new trail is completed.
There were some good points as well:
+I was able to take some good pictures of their elusive Red Panda during the morning and the evening visit. Quite the cutie!
+The three tiger cubs were active in the morning, so I was able to take a few good pictures of them. The Head Researcher of the tigers was there and we got to meet him as well. He complimented me on the good camera shots I was getting. Almost laughed because mine wasn't cheap as a zoom camera, but it definitely wasn't in the 1,000 dollar range like his. He was a nice older guy though.
+Got to see Mopie, which was nice. But it was rather sad because he had his finger in his ear while about 20+ kids came around and knocked on the glass. Only heard one parent tell her child not to do that, so I'm rather worried about the parents of today. Thinking about taking a "Do Not Tap On Glass" sign to stick there the next time I go. *sigh*
+Didn't go up the large hill to see the birds. I'm not a huge bird lover and that hill has to lead to something I'm a big lover of if I'm going to climb up it for the fourth time this year. My knee was grateful for the reprieve.
+Nature trails. Love them. Plus, the animals always have much more natural looking environments there. Don't like having to go into a building to see an animal. Takes something away from the experience.
Other then that, I woke up earlier to a rather strange noise. It sounded like someone was making a strange snoring sound, which was odd since I was alone. Wondering what the heck it was, I followed it to where Shelby was. He was lying there sleeping with his mouth hanging wide open. I'm assuming he was snoring. He tends to make little moaning sounds in his sleep, so I guess that is what it sounds like when his mouth is open. Strange cat. lol.
Also, Happy Birthday to shinzelikeastar!
Decided to go to the zoo on Sunday because it will be too cold to go soon and we wanted to see the cubs again before they get too old. It was rather bittersweet for me. Found out two of my fav animals had been transported to another location, one of which died on the 12th and our baby elephant (who turns 3 this month) might be sold to another zoo. The two who were transported, orangutan brother and sister Azy & Indah, had been part of a research program for the past nine years. Dr. Rob Shumaker was head of the research involving a program where we could communicate with the orangutans using symbols. They'd have a few demonstrations a day where a few people could sit down and watch as he communicated with either Azy or Indah. We visited last in September, the month they left, and I sat down for a hour or more watching them. I'm glad I did now that they are gone. Dr. Rob Shumaker and some associates have started Great Ape Trust, a lovely sanctuary in Des Moines, Iowa for all four types of great apes: bonobos, chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans. It will be among the largest great ape facilities in North America and one of the first worldwide to include all four types of great ape. Their hope is to provide an honorable life for great apes, study the intelligence of great apes, advance conservation of great apes and provide unique educational experiences about great apes. By 1930, Orangutan populations are estimated to be at only 1%, with the other three ape species all under 10%. This makes what the Great Ape Trust is doing all the more important. I'm glad they chose two of our orangutans to be there among their first apes. Unfortunately, Indah was diagnosed with Bowel Syndrome at a young age and it advanced on her once she moved to her new home. After recent inactivity and loss of appetite, they did an examination and found an obstruction of the lower intestinal tract. During surgey to remove the obstruction, the surgical team discovered that her bowel syndrome had progressed into an untreatable terminal state. She was euthanized as the only humane option. Indah was only 24 years old. RIP Indah.
The baby elephant who might be sold to another zoo is a male named Kandula. He was born at the zoo to his mother, Shanti. He is the first baby elephant to survive at the zoo, the first one born died from a then unknown illness (also a son from Shanti), so Kandula's birth was highly anticipated. They don't want to sell him, but the keeper explained how the zoo is not yet able to provide the appropriate staff for a bull elephant. He is starting to show some signs of difficulty, which could just be him being a youngster. As long as he doesn't get too difficult to handle or show signs of aggression, then they should be able to keep him, as they are building a new Asian trail. The females will get a larger enclosure and they plan to make an additional enclosure for a few bull elephants (they hope to be one of the few North American Zoos to house male elephants for a local survival/breeding program). I'm hoping they are able to keep him once this new trail is completed.
There were some good points as well:
+I was able to take some good pictures of their elusive Red Panda during the morning and the evening visit. Quite the cutie!
+The three tiger cubs were active in the morning, so I was able to take a few good pictures of them. The Head Researcher of the tigers was there and we got to meet him as well. He complimented me on the good camera shots I was getting. Almost laughed because mine wasn't cheap as a zoom camera, but it definitely wasn't in the 1,000 dollar range like his. He was a nice older guy though.
+Got to see Mopie, which was nice. But it was rather sad because he had his finger in his ear while about 20+ kids came around and knocked on the glass. Only heard one parent tell her child not to do that, so I'm rather worried about the parents of today. Thinking about taking a "Do Not Tap On Glass" sign to stick there the next time I go. *sigh*
+Didn't go up the large hill to see the birds. I'm not a huge bird lover and that hill has to lead to something I'm a big lover of if I'm going to climb up it for the fourth time this year. My knee was grateful for the reprieve.
+Nature trails. Love them. Plus, the animals always have much more natural looking environments there. Don't like having to go into a building to see an animal. Takes something away from the experience.
Other then that, I woke up earlier to a rather strange noise. It sounded like someone was making a strange snoring sound, which was odd since I was alone. Wondering what the heck it was, I followed it to where Shelby was. He was lying there sleeping with his mouth hanging wide open. I'm assuming he was snoring. He tends to make little moaning sounds in his sleep, so I guess that is what it sounds like when his mouth is open. Strange cat. lol.